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 Private Charles Francis Kearns (ASN: 2248734), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fey-en-Haye, France, 12 September 1918. Private Kearns rushed machine-gun nests that were holding up the advance of his company, killed the crews with his automatic rifle, and captured the guns. He continued to render valiant service throughout the engagement until he was wounded by a shell fragment.