James P. Growdon

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James P. Growdon, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action west of Fismes, France, August 5, 1918. After reconnoitering a sector of the River Vesle in advance of the front lines of the infantry for the purpose of selecting a site for a footbridge, Captain Growdon went with a small party of engineers through an enemy barrage from 77- millimeter and one-pounder guns and assisted in directing the construction work. As soon as the operations were discovered machine-gun fire was opened upon the party, but they continued at work, removing the German wire entanglements and successfully completing a bridge, which was of great value in subsequent operations.