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 James B. Townsend (ASN: 1932946), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Sanitary Detachment, 328th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vandieres, France, 15 September 1918. Private Townsend left Vandieres, went out on the field, which was continually under shell fire, and collected and brought into Vandieres 16 wounded. He remained with them 32 hours, bringing them food and water, adjusting gas masks, and making the wounded comfortable until all had been evacuated.