Charles T. Ritzert

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles T. Ritzert, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Courmont and St. Martin, France, July 31 to August 4, 1918. Throughout the battle to force passage of the Ourcq River and capture the heights beyond, Private Ritzert, a stretcher bearer, worked day and night, evacuating wounded under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. On August 4, under violent shell fire opposite Mont St. Martin, he made repeated trips between the firing line and dressing station until he was killed by a shell.