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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Ralph Polk Buell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in an attack on Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Lieutenant Buell led his company in attack exposed to heavy artillery fire. When confronted by a strong enemy machine gun position, firing point-blank on his advancing unit, he led the dash which resulted in the capture of the trench. He fell wounded 30 yards in advance of his men.