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) R. V. Bittchofsky, 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 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on the river Marne, near Chateau-Thierry, France, 15 July 1918, Lieutenant Bittchofsky led a counterattack against a strong force of the enemy, with one platoon, after its leader had been wounded. By his leadership the platoon was successful in driving off the enemy and taking forty-two prisoners.