By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Axel M. Madsen (ASN: 2077974), 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. Corporal Madsen distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company M, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Bois de Harville, France, 10 November 1918, in assuming command of and leading his platoon forward under heavy machine gun fire.