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 Captain (Corps of Engineers) James P. Growdon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 4th Engineers, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, west of Fismes, France, 5 August 1918. After reconnoitering a sector of the River Vesle in advance of the front lines of the infantry for the purpose of selecting a site for a footbridge, Captain Growdon went with a small party of engineers through an enemy barrage from 77-millimeter and one-pounder guns and assisted in directing the construction work. As soon as the operations were discovered machine-gun fire was opened upon the party, but they continued at work, removing the German wire entanglements and successfully completing a bridge, which was of great value in subsequent operations.