By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal David Blankenship (ASN: 1819219), 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. Corporal Blankenship distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Nantillois, France, 11 October 1918. After his company had been withdrawn from Bois de Fays, Corporal Blankenship voluntarily returned to the former location of the company, and under heavy machine gun fire remained there until he had ascertained that there were no wounded who had not been carried to the rear and had identified all who had been killed.