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) Virgil T. Bell, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Bell distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Machine Gun Company, 326th Infantry Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near St. Juvin, France, 11 October 1918, in continuously operating his guns for thirty-six hours, under heavy enemy machine gun and artillery fire.