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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) James Madison Davis, Jr. (ASN: 0-2055065), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 1 December 1944, in the vicinity of Ribeauville, France. Assigned the mission of protecting a detail of engineers as they cleared the St. Marine Aux Mines-Ribeauville road of felled trees and mines, Lieutenant Davis left one squad of men with the engineers while he, with the remainder of his men, pushed quickly forward to prevent a possible ambush and to secure the road ahead. Encountering a second roadblock of felled trees, Lieutenant Davis made a careful reconnaissance of the enemy positions. When he determined that the roadblock was being defended by a well dug-in and concealed enemy ambush, Lieutenant Davis divided his platoon into two parts in order to assault the German positions from both flanks. He then proceeded alone against the rear of the enemy position in an effort to take the enemy by surprise and, in the ensuing confusion, give his two flanking squads an opportunity to annihilate the hostile force. Armed only with a carbine, he rushed into the very heart of the German position, firing as he ran. The audacity of his actions so completely disorganized the enemy that his platoon was able to assault the hostile position killing nine and capturing eight of the enemy and forcing the remainder to withdraw in confusion. Lieutenant Davis was killed as he reached the center of the enemy position. By his extraordinary heroism and fearless actions he effected the destruction of the enemy ambush and permitted the engineers to successfully clear the roadblock. Second Lieutenant Davis’ extraordinary heroism, 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.