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 (Corps of Engineers) Brendan A. Burns, 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 Burns distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 310th Engineer Regiment, 85th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Ust Padenga, Russia, 22 January 1919, while in command of a mixed detachment of machine gunners.