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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Charles V. Abernathy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Thiaucourt, France, 14 September 1918. Commanding the regimental pioneer platoon, Lieutenant Abernathy led it and the Stokes Mortar Platoon as Infantry, and overcame a machine-gun nest, capturing several machine guns and disposing of the crew. He continued to advance under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, until he fell wounded in the head, hip and leg.