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 Private Charles Theodor Ritzert (ASN: 1953948), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Courmont and St. Martin, France, July 31 to 4 August 1918. Throughout the battle to force passage of the Ourcq River and capture the heights beyond, Private Ritzert, a stretcher bearer, worked day and night, evacuating wounded under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. On 4 August under violent shell fire opposite Mont St. Martin, he made repeated trips between the firing line and dressing station until he was killed by a shell.