The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class James J. Tappen (ASN: 1708342), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Binarville, France, 28 September 1918. Private Tappen pushed forward alone against several enemy snipers, who were causing many casualties, among his comrades. He killed two of the snipers, but was killed while attempting to capture the third sniper.