By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Henry D. Hays, United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Hays distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 2d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Exermont, France, 6 October 1918, in making a reconnaissance in advance of our lines and locating a hostile enemy machine gun nest.