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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) James Francis Faber (ASN: 0-920829), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion, 331st Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 9 and 10 July 1944. On that date, the attack of the 2d Battalion 331st Infantry, was temporarily halted by the sudden appearance of four German tanks in the Battalion sector of advance. Led by these tanks, the German Infantry launched a counter-attack behind a heavy artillery and mortar barrage. Lieutenant Colonel Farber, realizing the seriousness of the situation, personally led two tanks into position to engage the enemy tanks. To reach this position, it was necessary for him to expose himself to heavy direct fire from the enemy lines. This he did with utter disregard for his own safety to bring fire on the enemy tanks. His action resulted in one German tank being set afire, the crew being burned to death. Lieutenant Colonel Farber continued to direct fire on the enemy position until the lead American tank was hit and it was necessary for the supporting tank to withdraw. Prior to this action, casualties had reduced our companies to only half strength. Two companies had lost their company commanders. Company G was pinned down on the left of the Battalion sector, suffering heavy casualties and unable to further their attack, as well as continue the attack of the 2d Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Farber organized E and F Companies to assault. Again he went to an exposed position, crawling forward to lead a bazooka team to within seventy-five yards of the German tanks. His aggressiveness resulted in the destruction of another enemy tank and the damage of a third. Now assured that his battalion would not be assaulting armor, he ordered his men to follow him and led a charge against the enemy position. Through a hail of withering machine gun fire, and under heavy mortar and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel Farber personally led his troops toward the objective. Going from point to point in the battalion sector, he encouraged the men to press the attack. The surprise and fury of the assault shocked the enemy into leaving covered and concealed positions. As the Germans retreated in disorder, sixty-five were killed by rifle and mortar fire of our own rushing troops. So furious was the charge, our troops stormed into the town of Sainteny before it could be organized for resistance and the enemy were driven from the town. As soon as the objective had been reached, the town was subjected to heavy shelling from enemy artillery, heavy mortars and direct weapons fire from three sides, for not only had Lieutenant Colonel Farber led his battalion to the Corps objective, but he now occupied a salient into the German lines, with strong enemy forces to the South, East and West. Continuing, without hesitation, to expose himself to the heavy fire falling on the position, Lieutenant Colonel Farber personally organized the defense of the objective. Placing his command group in the center of the area, he occupied a command post in the town itself. The shelling continued during the night at intervals. At daylight, German artillery began a terrific pounding of the 2d Battalion position and tanks on both sides of the town poured in rapid fire from 88-mm. and 75-mm. guns. As relief units were now moving up to relieve his battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Farber ordered his command group to displace to the North of the town. While his troops were moving to their new assembly area, he remained behind to personally supervise the evacuation of the wounded. Responding to a call for help that came from an isolated building, Lieutenant Colonel Farber was killed by a direct hit from a high velocity weapon. Lieutenant Colonel Faber’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 83d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.