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 Private Charles J. Bell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company B, 339th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Tulgas, Russia, 12 November 1918. After the blockhouse in which he and several other comrades were stationed had been hit by a high-explosive shell, killing two and wounding five, and himself had been so severely wounded as to be blinded in one eye, Private Bell continued to remain at his post and fired his Lewis gun until relieved. This continued under heavy shell fire.