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 First Class Charles E. Thorne (ASN: 139552), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 147th Field Artillery, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Nantillois, France, 29 September 1918. While on duty with his battery as a lineman, Private Thorne saw a soldier fall wounded by shell fragments. Leaving his shelter, Private Thorne went through concentrated shell fire to the assistance of the wounded soldier and in endeavoring to rescue him was himself killed by the explosion of a shell.