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 Sergeant James P. Collins (ASN: 1750872), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Grand Pre, France, 23 October 1918. Upon his own initiative Sergeant Collins crossed an open field heavily swept by machine-gun fire, and, assisted by two other soldiers, carried to shelter his company commander, who had been mortally wounded.