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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) James L. Howard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Division Machine-Gun Officer, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Marcheville, France, 26 September 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Howard directed the machine-gun attack in person. Entering Marcheville ahead of the troops, he rendered great assistance while the town changed hands four times. When he was in a small party, cut off and surrounded by the enemy and under fire from every direction, by his coolness and resourcefulness he assisted materially in aiding the party to withdraw. He effectively organized machine-gun defenses when the enemy was endeavoring to drive our troops from the town. During the entire day he was under intense artillery bombardment, machine-gun and rifle fire, and hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy.