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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) James Allen Higgs, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 3d Balloon Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Pont-a-Mousson, France, 31 July 1918. Lieutenant Higgs was carrying on a general surveillance of his sector from his balloon with a French soldier, when an enemy plane dived from a cloud and opened fire on the balloon. In imminent danger he remained in basket until he had helped his French comrade, after whom he himself jumped. On 21 August in the same sector, Lieutenant Higgs was performing an important mission regulating artillery fire. Enemy planes attacked, and with great gallantry Lieutenant Higgs remained in the basket until his assistant had jumped. On 29 October near Gesnes, Lieutenant Higgs was conducting a reglage from the basket with a student observer. Attacked by enemy planes, after his balloon was burning, Lieutenant Higgs would not quit his post until he had assisted his companion to escape. In each of the foregoing instances, Lieutenant Higgs at once re-ascended in a new balloon.