By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Vernon J. Staples, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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 Battery C, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Corporal Staples distinguished himself in the Marne engagement, 17 July 1918, by going out under heavy fire to find an ammunition dump, the location of which was not definitely known. While on this mission he was mortally wounded.