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 Lieutenant James Harvey Gaul (NSN: 0-105695), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 2677th Regiment, Office of Strategic Services, in action against enemy forces from 17 September 1944 to 26 December 1944. With full knowledge of the extreme hazards involved, Lieutenant Gaul volunteered for an intelligence mission into the heart of enemy-occupied Czechoslovakia. As second in command of the mission, he played a leading role in the securing the military information of great value to the Allied cause, and assisted in the rescue and evacuation of a large number of downed Allied airmen. Until deterioration of the fighting front in Czechoslovakia rendered further operations impracticable, the team of which Lieutenant Gaul was a member operated successfully for many weeks behind enemy lines under conditions of utmost peril and hardship, transmitting a constant flow intelligence to Allied authorities. During the absence of the team’s commanding officer on an urgent mission to attempt renewal of radio contact with the operations base, Lieutenant Gaul assumed leadership of the group. By his courage, decisiveness, and driving energy, he maintained the spirit and strength of the group despite the extreme sufferings from exposure and privations it was then undergoing. In order to obtain medical aid and a safe place of refuge for the seriously ill members of the group, he undertook numerous dangerous reconnaissances, being forced on several occasions to flee under enemy fire. Lieutenant Gaul’s heroic and selfless performance of duty, until his capture and subsequent execution by the enemy, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Services.