By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant John R. Stout (ASN: 130774), 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 Stout distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Busigny, France, 9 October 1918, in flanking an enemy machine-gun nest, putting the gun out of action.