By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private William Patrick Roche (ASN: 554717), 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 Roche distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Mezy, France, 15 July 1918, as a gunner of a machine gun in an exposed position during the heavy German attack across the Marne.