The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) James Cross Barnes, Jr. (ASN: 0-62704), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Forward Observer of Battery A, 48th Field Artillery Battalion, in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations in Korea, on 7 December 1950. Lieutenant Barnes, commanding a composite unit of the 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was proceeding in motor convoy with elements of the FIRST Marine Division from Hagaru-ri to Koto-ri. A portion of the convoy was seriously threatened by the enemy who had established a well-emplaced machine gun on commanding terrain, inflicting severe casualties on the column. Lieutenant Barnes, perceiving the impending danger, ordered a platoon to follow him in a rapid charge against the enemy. Pinned down by hostile fire, his men were unable to advance and, realizing their peril, Lieutenant Barnes dashed across approximately three hundred yards of open ground, exposing himself to nearly point-blank automatic weapons fire until, effectively positioned, he destroyed the machine gun with hand grenades and small arms fire. Lieutenant Barnes’ conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity enabled the unit to attack and annihilate the foe, preventing heavy casualties among his men. His selfless devotion to duty reflects untold glory on himself and upholds the heroic traditions of the military service.