James CORNELIUS Ruddell, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to James Cornelius Ruddell, Jr. (0-57177), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Ruddell distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Taejon, Korea, on 16 July 1950. On this date the enemy, far outnumbering the forces against them, penetrated the Kum River Line, and overran the forward positions. The action disorganized communications, broke up coordinated defense and threatened the regimental command post. Lieutenant Ruddell personally rallied small fighting groups and organized them into a defensive team to delay the enemy advance. He constantly exposed himself to heavy fire in organizing and fighting the delaying action on the spot. His courage was exemplary. He took time to give aid to wounded men in exposed positions, where several others had been killed in the attempt. Heedless of numbers, the threat of envelopment, and accurate enemy fire, including that of snipers, Lieutenant Ruddell took up a forward position from which he directed mortar fire against the enemy and automatic-weapons fire against infiltrators. His delaying action prevented encirclement and permitted military withdrawal. For several hours he continued to encourage and to lead his troops. His coolness under fire, expert direction of the depleted forces under his command, and his keen analysis of enemy dispositions, won the complete confidence of men who did not know him personally but who were inspired by his determination in the face of tremendous odds.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 77 (September 23, 1950)