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 Sergeant Ralph Alexander Capen (ASN: 1783758), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 311th Machine-Gun Battalion, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Montfaucon, France, September 29 – 1 October 1918. On September 29 Sergeant Capen voluntarily left his place of safety and rescued a wounded comrade and brought him to a place of shelter. On October 1 he volunteered to assist in carrying rations to his company, making repeated trips through heavy artillery fire, and each time successfully accomplished his mission.