By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private First Class Howard E. Murphy, 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 L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Private First Class Murphy displayed exceptional heroism on the morning of 15 July 1918, in that he volunteered and took important messages from his company to his Battalion Headquarters through heavy artillery bombardment of the enemy.