The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Robert Nelson Craidge (ASN: 263244), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Hill 212, near Cierges, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, 31 July 1918. Corporal Craidge was in charge of an advanced Chauchat rifle position while his company was exposed to severe machine-gun fire from the front and right flank. After three of his men had been killed and the other totally blinded by shellfire, Corporal Craidge remained at his post and kept his gun in operation until he was killed, this brave act inspiring the members of his organization who were eyewitnesses.