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 (Field Artillery) Charles F. Bongardt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 17th Field Artillery, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the fight at Vaux, France, 1 July 1918, while serving as a telephone officer, he crossed an open field in full view of the enemy and under constant bombardment three times to repair telephone lines vitally necessary to keep six batteries in operation.