"Has time after time given proof of his courage and bravery by going to the most exposed posts to gather information. On June 5, 1918, while accompanying a regiment of marines who were attacking a wood, he was severely wounded by three machine gun bullets in going to the rescue of an American officer wounded near him--demonstrating, by this action, the most noble devotion. When, a few hours later, he was lifted and transported to the dressing station, he begged not to be cared for until the wounded who had arrived before him had been attended to." General Headquarters, August 2, 1918 THE GENERAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (_Signed_) PETAIN * * * * * GRAND QUARTIER GENERAL DES ARMEES DU NORD ET DU NORD-EST ETAT-MAJOR BUREAU DU PERSONNEL (Decorations) ORDRE No 8809 D Le General Commandant en Chef Cite a l'Ordre de l'Armee: _M. FLOYD GIBBONS_, Correspondant de Guerre du Chicago Tribune: "A donne a maintes reprises des preuves de courage et de bravoure, en allant recueillir des informations aux postes les plus exposes. Le 5 Juin 1918, accompagnant un regiment de Fusiliers marins qui attaquait un bois, a ete tres grievement atteint de trois balles de mitrailleuses en se portant au secours d'un officier americain blesse a ses cotes, faisant ainsi preuve, en cette circonstance, du plus beau devouement. Releve plusieurs heures apres et transporte au poste de secours, a demande a ne pas etre soigne avant les blesses arrives avant lui." Au Grand Quartier General, le 2 Aout 1918. LE GENERAL COMMANDANT EN CHEF. Petain * * * * * FOREWORD Marshal Foch, the commander of eleven million bayonets, has written that no man is more qualified than Gibbons to tell the true story of the Western Front. General Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, has said that it was Gibbons' great opportunity to give the people in America a life-like picture of the work of the American soldier in France. The key to the book is the man.