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 Major (Infantry) James Augustine McKenna, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Villers-sur-Fere, 28 July 1918. Major McKenna was killed while successfully leading a most difficult and trying attack across the River Ourcq, and against the strongly prepared positions on the heights beyond.