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 Technical Sergeant Charles D. St. John (ASN: 13018704), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 2 March 1945. On that date, near Thum, Germany, Sergeant St. John and his platoon were isolated by a fierce enemy counterattack and subjected to withering small arms and automatic weapons fire. With cool, heroic leadership he maneuvered them to the shelter of a farm building, set an adjoining haystack on fire to provide a smoke screen, silenced a hostile machine gun with accurate fire from his BAR and then audaciously turned it on other enemy forces, pinning them down until friendly elements arrived to give assistance. Sergeant St. John’s gallant actions and indomitable fighting spirit are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.