Charles L. Pettit

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles L. Pettit, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 27, 1918. After being seriously wounded in the assault against strong enemy positions in the Bois-de-le Reine, Lieutenant Pettit stumbled on at the head of his command until compelled to turn over the command to a sergeant, on account of his condition. After this he remained in a shell hole under terrific concentration of machine-gun and artillery fire, encouraging his men as best he could, and aiding to the utmost of his ability by sniping the enemy with the rifle of a soldier wounded more severely than himself.