Charles Kemme served in the United States Army during World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of Soissons (1918).
His award citation reads:
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 Kemme (ASN: 283896), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Private Kemme displayed exceptional bravery and utter disregard of his own life by advancing on a machine-gun nest of two guns and six men, and by working his way up to the rear of the guns, put them out of action in hand-to-hand combat. On 20 July 1918, he again advanced on a machine gun which was doing great damage to the men in his sector by sniping, put the gun out of action, and returned to the trenches with the gun.
Kemme was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His home of record was Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1]