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 F. Cranford, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company C, 31st Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces (Siberia), in action near Sitsa, Siberia, 26 June 1919. Sergeant Cranford was in command of a platoon of his company and successfully defended the railroad and bridges against an attack by a force of partisans greatly superior in numbers. Due to Sergeant Cranford’s skill in placing the members of his platoon, they were able to drive the partisans away from the strong position they had taken upon the hills without loss to the platoon.