Samuel J. Ralston

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Samuel J. Ralston, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Cantigny, France, May 28, 1918. First Sergeant Ralston commanded a platoon of his company, efficiently leading it in the initial attack and inspiring his men to reach their objective, where they dug in. Two runners having been wounded in an attempt to carry back a message calling for the lengthening of our artillery fire, he obtained permission to leave his platoon, volunteered to carry the message, and successfully delivered it to his regimental commander through a heavy German counter-barrage, the pass of the American barrage, and continuous and intense machine-gun fire, by which he was wounded. He repeatedly refused to be evacuated to the rear, though a serious counterattack was in progress, remaining at regimental headquarters until his recovery.