The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal James Hensley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader with a platoon of Company F, 2d Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Corporal Hensley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Hungnam, North Korea, on 19 December 1950. Elements of his company were deployed in a series of strongpoints approximately nine hundred yards apart defending the perimeter around the Port of Hungnam. Corporal Hensley observed a large hostile force approaching his position through a pass at approximately 0300 hours. Awakening and alerting the members of his squad, and instilling confidence that they could contain the attack, Corporal Hensley waited until the enemy had advanced within thirty yards and, manning a machine-gun, delivered point-blank fire into their ranks, inflicting many casualties. Although subjected to intense small-arms, automatic-weapons, and recoilless rifle fire and knowing the strongpoints on both sides had been overrun, Corporal Hensley refused to abandon his vantage point. On several occasions, hostile troops succeeded in crawling nearby and hurled grenades at his position, one of which grazed his hand, but undaunted, he remained steadfast and exacted a heavy toll of casualties throughout each assault. After nearly an hour of bitter resistance, during which he turned his weapon around twice to deliver destructive fire on enemy groups who had infiltrated on both flanks, Corporal Hensley’s machine-gun became defective and failed to fire automatically. Applying instant action, he continued to fire single rounds manually until the weapon become inoperative. With his machine-gun out of action and a dwindling supply of carbine ammunition, he ordered a withdrawal and, struggling with his heavy weapon to deny its possible use to the attacking enemy, he fearlessly led his squad up the ridge line toward the last known position of the strongpoint on his left flank, stopping twice to fight his way through pockets of infiltrating enemy. Corporal Hensley’s valorous conduct and intrepid actions resulted in numerous hostile wounded and, after the position was retaken later in the morning, approximately forty enemy dead were found in the wake of his field of fire. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Corporal Hensley on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.