The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant James Jackson Purman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Purman voluntarily assisted a wounded comrade to a place of apparent safety while the enemy were in close proximity; he received the fire of the enemy and a wound which resulted in the amputation of his left leg.