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 (Air Service) James E. McCurdy, United States Army Air Service, 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 (Air Service) McCurdy distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the Argonne Forest, France, 6 October 1918, in attacking an enemy balloon and in turn fighting off an enemy formation of five planes who attacked him.