The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Charles Stanley Macek (ASN: 36409791), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in action on 12 September 1944, near Bennal, France. When the agent corporal of his platoon was wounded, Corporal Macek volunteered to deliver a message through an area covered by enemy machine gun and mortar fire. When he received orders that his platoon was to occupy an alternate position, Corporal Macek started back to his platoon area only to discover that the enemy was infiltrating behind it. While crossing an open stretch of terrain, he was wounded in the arm by an enemy sniper. Nevertheless, he crawled to his platoon leader, informed him of the new orders, then rejoined his squad. When his squad was ordered to displace to the alternate position, Corporal Macek remained at the forward position to cover the movement. Using one hand to manipulate and fire his machine gun, he successfully covered the movement of his squad. Corporal Macek was killed by enemy mortar fire, but his heroic performance remains as a lasting inspiration to all his comrades.