The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to Major (Ordnance Corps) Charles F. Cook, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. While serving in the Ordnance Department Major Cook was instrumental in organizing the divisions dealing with the procurement of ordnance material. While serving on the General Staff he worked out a plan for the consolidation of all articles of standard commercial circulation in single purchasing units throughout the War Department upon which basis was build the organization of the present Division of Purchase, Storage and Traffic of the General Staff. In his various assignments he gave himself whole-heartedly and self-sacrificially to the work of the Government.