By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Signal Corps) Ellis R. Tuerpe, 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. First Lieutenant Tuerpe distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 107th Field Signal Battalion, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Gesnes, France, 5 August 1918, in laying a telephone wire under heavy artillery and machine gun fire.