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 Colonel (Infantry) Van Leer Wills, 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. As Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 92d Division, from 9 September to 9 November 1918, as Deputy Chief of Staff, 1st Army, American Expeditionary Forces, from 11 November 1918 to 20 April 1919, and as Acting Chief of Staff for various periods, Colonel Wills’ duties involving the direction of re-equipment and supply of the 1st Army units which marched into Germany with the 3d American Army; the direction of the policing of the 1st Army’s battlefields and the withdrawal of the 1st Army to rest areas; planning and supervising the training, recreation, and vocational training of the 1st Army while in rest areas awaiting transportation home, as Assistant to Chief of Staff, G-4, Services of Supply from April 1919 to August 1919, and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, Services of Supply, from August 1919 to October 1919, he supervised the liquidation and disposal of the vast supplies involved in the dissolution of the Services of Supply. He displayed rare initiative, outstanding administrative and executive ability, and unremitting devotion to duty in these positions of grave responsibility, contributing signally to the successful repatriation of the American Army and the prompt and effective liquidation of the affairs of the American Expeditionary Forces.