James R. Mills

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James R. Mills (RA06919653), Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Master Sergeant Mills distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Chonju, Korea, on 27 September 1950. On that date, Master Sergeant Mills led his men in an attack on a heavily fortified enemy position. Advancing through extremely heavy hostile fire, he was wounded while kicking an enemy grenade away from his men. However, he continued in spite of a paralyzed right arm and a serious chest wound to engage and destroy an enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Sergeant Mills, by personal example and calm encouragement, so inspired his men that they continued to advance and destroyed an enemy machine-gun, killed several enemy and secured the hill. Sergeant Mills refused medical aid and remained with his men for over an hour until the road below had been cleared of mines for the attack to continue.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 97 (February 25, 1951)