Charles W. Ryder

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles W. Ryder, Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fleville, France, October 9, 1918. In the attack on Hill 272, after all his runners had been killed or wounded while trying to establish liaison with the front- line companies, Major Ryder advanced alone and personally directed the action of his command although under direct fire from two enemy machine guns. He later personally led the final assault on Hill 272, thereby making possible the success of the entire attack.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles W. Ryder, Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 21, 1918. Major Ryder took command of the front-line units and reorganized them under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Although wounded in the early operations, he remained in command and directed the attack until all objectives had been taken.