James Stanley Colton

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Stanley Colton, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, France, from August 4 – 6, 1918. Second Lieutenant Colton successfully carried out a reconnaissance for the location of possible bridge sites across the River Vesle, near Fismes, France. He was constantly under heavy shell fire, and was frequently harassed by fire from hidden machine-gun nests in the town. Nevertheless, he passed beyond our furthest lines and secured the desired information. He was wounded before his mission was accomplished, but refused to return to his battalion until he had made his reconnaissance and had been relieved by another detail.