The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant James M. Elson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company C, 9th Iowa Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Sergeant Elson carried the colors in advance of his regiment and was shot down while attempting to plant them on the enemy’s works.