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 Sergeant Ralph Aloysius Whiteman (ASN: 1773801), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Grand Pre, France, 18 October 1918. When his detachment had become disorganized by sniper and machine-gun fire, Sergeant Whiteman, without regard for personal danger, reorganized his command, and by his gallant example led his men against the enemy machine-gun position, capturing it and bringing the gun back to our lines.