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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Charles Leandr Pettit, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 27 October 1918. After being seriously wounded in the assault against strong enemy positions in the Bois-de-le Reine, Lieutenant Pettit stumbled on at the head of his command until compelled to turn over the command to a sergeant, on account of his condition. After this he remained in a shell hole under terrific concentration of machine-gun and artillery fire, encouraging his men as best he could, and aiding to the utmost of his ability by sniping the enemy with the rifle of a soldier wounded more severely than himself.