By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant Ira L. Graves (ASN: 2186062), 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. Sergeant Graves distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 342d Machine-Gun Battalion, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Beaumont, France, 11 November 1918, in refusing to be evacuated although wounded.