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 Captain (Infantry) James C. Kennett (ASN: 0-338103), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in several successive actions while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, 2d Battalion, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, in action against enemy forces from 14 to 23 April 1945, in Italy. While attacking Hill 903 under machine-gun, artillery, and mortar fire, Captain Kennett remained in an exposed position to assist each man of his entire second platoon in scaling a ten foot wall. On another occasion, he carried a seriously wounded man from danger, deposited him in his own fox hole, and then remained in the open all night to encourage his men and steel them against the artillery shelling to which they were subjected. Throughout pursuit operations at Mount Serra and northward to the Po River, he assumed forward positions from which to exhort his troops and exhibited great bravery in climbing aboard tanks under heavy fire to help direct their gunners in leveling points of resistance. Single-handedly, he cleared a dugout of snipers who threatened his unit from the rear. He crossed the Po River at the head of his troops and pushed on with characteristic aggressiveness to achieve his objective near Bagnolo San Vito. As the defense of the town was being organized, he learned that enemy 88-mm. guns were still firing from the open left flank. Taking upon himself the duty of reconnoitering the hostile weapons which he realized were a grave threat to troops still crossing the Po, he went out into enemy territory even though warned by advanced units of the great danger and was there killed instantly by a bust of machine-gun fire. Captain Kennett’s courageous leadership inspired his men to heights of fighting fervor that contributed materially to the final defeat of the enemy in Italy. His personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.