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 Cross, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Souplet, France, 15 October 1918. Accompanied by four soldiers, Lieutenant Cross made a reconnaissance of the River La Salle, the journey being under constant heavy machine-gun fire. To secure the desired information it was necessary to wade the stream for the entire distance. On the following evening, Lieutenant Cross taped the line from which his regiment would launch their attack; and, in the battle that followed, he was severely wounded.