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 First Class James Wesley Ponder (ASN: 2845838), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in crossing the Meuse River, France, November 9 – 10, 1918. Private Ponder volunteered as a member of a patrol which was to cross the Meuse River by swimming at a point known to be heavily occupied by enemy detachments, on the night of November 9 – 10, to gain information of the enemy and to capture prisoners. When the members of the patrol reached the middle of the river, they were discovered by the enemy who immediately opened a severe fire upon them using artillery, machine guns, and hand grenades. The heavy fire compelled all but six men to return. With utter disregard for his own personal safety Private Ponder, one of the remaining members, continued on the mission and succeeded in crossing the river.