By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private First Class Ira C. Keller, 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. Private First Class Keller 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, 15 July 1918, while continuing at his gun position after the remaining gunners had been killed or wounded during a fire for destruction by the enemy.