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 Charles A. McCoy (ASN: 203088), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 5 October 1918. Even though he himself was suffering from wounds, Corporal McCoy refused evacuation, but after all superiors of his company had become casualties, he assumed command, reorganizing the forces and consolidating the position, working in the face of murderous machine-gun fire.