By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Lieutenant Colonel John Arthur Hughes (MCSN: 0-1163), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action east of Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918, in conducting his battalion across open fields swept by violent machine guns and artillery fire.