The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry) Charles Wolcott Ryder, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 21 July 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.