By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Erwin L. Ward, 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. Second Lieutenant Ward distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Machine Gun Company, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Vaux-Andigny, France, 9 October 1918, in making a personal reconnaissance under severe machine gun fire.