By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Ben W. Hagan (ASN: 1938872), United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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. Corporal Hagan distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Cunel, France, 17 October 1918, while directing the fire of his machine gun during an enemy counterattack.