The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Service) Martin Francis Scanlon, United States Army Air Service, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Air Corps Officer, 5th Army Corps, from 23 October 1918 to 22 February 1919, which included active operations in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Lieutenant Colonel Scanlon demonstrated an unusually high degree of efficiency, courage, leadership, loyalty, and technical attainments. At all times he executed the most difficult missions assigned to the Air Service, thereby contributing materially to the success of the operations of the 5th Army Corps, and rendering important services to the American Expeditionary Forces in the operations against the enemy.