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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) James E. Breslin, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 168th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cote-de-Chatillon, France, 15 October 1918. Second Lieutenant Breslin was in charge of a combat liaison platoon during the offensive operations at Cote-de-Chatillon. When the leading companies were held up by intense concentrated machine-gun fire, he courageously led his platoon forward and penetrated the enemy’s lines for a depth of 1 kilometer, his command being reduced by heavy casualties to only 12 men. In severe hand-to-hand fighting he captured 2 machine-gun nests and 40 prisoners, and obtained valuable information regarding the hostile positions, which enabled the leading companies to continue the advance.