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 F. Spitznagel (ASN: 794968), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 15th Machine-Gun Battalion, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Bois-de-Rappes, France, 21 October 1918. Corporal Spitznagel displayed utter disregard for his personal safety in the attack on the Rappe, when his gunner was severely wounded and his leader killed. He then fired the gun himself, until he was seriously wounded, when he refused to be evacuated, but remained with his crew, encouraging them and directing their fire until relieved two hours later.