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 J. Byrne (ASN: 1284614), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-de-Consenvoye, France, 10 October 1918. While the advance of his platoon was being held up by machine-gun fire from a tree, Private Byrne made his way through heavy and constant fire, to a position from which he was able to kill the gunner and rout the remainder of the enemy. His valiant action made possible the further advance of his platoon without serious loss.