By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant Benjamin F. Gross (ASN: 553722), 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 Gross distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 8th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during the Second Battle of the Marne, 1 June to 27 July 1918, conducting a reconnaissance previous to the advance of a platoon.