James A. Norton
Home Town: Columbia, SD
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. 15, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James A. Norton, Wagoner, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Juvigny, north of Soissons, France, September 4, 1918. During a heavy enemy bombardment a shell burst near two ammunition trucks that were being unloaded at a dump, blowing up one truck and setting fire to the other. Disregarding the warning of bystanders, Wagoner Norton rushed forward, threw off the burning cushions and cover on the truck and backed it to a place of safety. His conspicuous bravery was the means of saving a large quantity of ammunition.