By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant Cornelius J. Vonk (ASN: 280884), 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 Vonk distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action on the Vesle, France, 28 July 1918, in voluntarily crossing an open field under enemy observation and machine gun fire and securing valuable information.