By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Infantry) Chester B. Blakeman, 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 the 9th Machine Gun Battalion, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Paroy, France, 14 – 15 July 1918, Lieutenant Blakeman distinguished himself by gallantry in action through the Marne Defensive. During the enemy bombardment he went personally to his gun positions and kept them by his example, firing on their S.C.S. line. The enemy bombardment practically destroyed one of Lieutenant Blakeman’s gun emplacements and the gun crew was forced by gas and bombardment to temporarily leave the emplacement. Lieutenant Blakeman with one man returned and personally acting as gunner, operated the gun for over two hours with only the mouth piece of his gas mask on. Lieutenant Blakeman was in this way gassed and subsequently had to be evacuated to a hospital.