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 Corporal Ralph Gitz (ASN: 1253129), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery A, 109th Field Artillery, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Courville, France, 6 September 1918. Exposing himself to an artillery barrage, Corporal Gitz occupied an exposed position to read projector signals from the infantry front line. He volunteered for this duty and rendered valuable service, receiving and transmitting messages until he was so severely wounded that it was necessary for him to be evacuated.