Maurice J. V. Ritt

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Maurice J. V. Ritt, Lieutenant of Infantry, French Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Juvigny, north of Soissons, France, August 31, 1918. Lieutenant Ritt assisted in establishing an advanced machine-gun position in the village of Juvigny, the fire of which forced the surrender of 32 enemy prisoners. This gallant officer assisted in forming a new line and went from one end to the other, picking up stragglers and getting the line organized, exposing himself to machine-gun fire throughout the operation. Three times he went through heavy fire for the purpose of maintaining liaison with a French division on the right.