By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Lawrence D. Blythe, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with Company F, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, while in command of a half platoon at Le Charmel, France, on 21 July 1918, Corporal Blythe took up an exposed position and by his successful defense of it enabled troops to use roads for the bringing up of reserves. This he did despite the fact that he was under heavy machine gun fire.