Charles D. Avery

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles D. Avery, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cantigny, May 27, 1918. After a two-hour barrage, which caused many casualties in our forces, the enemy raided a sector occupied by our troops. During the attack, Lieutenant Avery exhibited unusual courage in holding together his handful of men, after one-third had become casualties, and distributing ammunition to remaining men, which finally stopped the attack. Two prisoners were taken during the battle. Lieutenant Avery was severely wounded about the head, and later buried in a trench where he remained for three and one-half hours, before being dug out.