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 (Medical Corps) Edward M. Welles, Jr., United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. In the Office of the Chief Surgeon, American Expeditionary Forces, for nearly two years and embracing the entire period of combat activities, Lieutenant Colonel Welles was charged with all details concerning the reception and distribution and the classification and assignment of all officers, nurses, and enlisted men of the Medical Department serving overseas, a force aggregating approximately 250,000 individuals. In this position of great responsibility he displayed exceptional ability and rendered conspicuous service to the Government by directing with the greatest economy the distribution of all available personnel during periods of stress and threatened shortage, thereby materially contributing to the success of our forces in the field.