James A. Mcdevitt

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James A. McDevitt, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near Mamey and Cuisy, France, September 15 and October 5 – 6, 1918. On September 15, while performing an important mission, Lieutenant McDevitt’s balloon was attacked and riddled by an enemy plane firing incendiary bullets. He stuck to his post and gathered valuable information. On October 5 he was again attacked by several planes and the basket was set afire by incendiary bullets. While descending he was fired upon and his parachute was hit many times; he, nevertheless, insisted upon returning to the air. On October 6 he was attacked and his balloon was riddled with bullets. Again, on the same day, he was attacked by several enemy planes; he remained with his balloon until it came down in flames; he then resumed his post in a new balloon.