Charles R. Reilley

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles R. Reilley, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Audenarde, Belgium, November 1, and November 10, 1918. On November 1 Sergeant Reilley voluntarily accompanied a patrol into the city of Audenarde, when it was still occupied by the enemy, obtaining important data on destroyed bridges and attacking an enemy patrol three times the number. He also captured a German spy while the latter was attempting to escape. On this same day he forced a sniper to cover, thus saving the life of his captain, who was about to be fired upon. On November 10 he swam the Escaut River, braving the fire of enemy snipers on the opposite bank, and tied a rope to an enemy barrel bridge, thereby making a crossover for the infantry.