James Allen Higgs, Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Allen Higgs, Jr., First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Pont-a-Mousson, France, July 31, 1918. Lieutenant Higgs was carrying on a general surveillance of his sector from his balloon with a French soldier, when an enemy plane dived from a cloud and opened fire on the balloon. In imminent danger he remained in basket until he had helped his French comrade, after whom he himself jumped. On August 21, in the same sector, Lieutenant Higgs was performing an important mission regulating artillery fire. Enemy planes attacked, and with great gallantry Lieutenant Higgs remained in the basket until his assistant had jumped. On October 29, near Gesnes, Lieutenant Higgs was conducting a reglage from the basket with a student observer. Attacked by enemy planes, after his balloon was burning, Lieutenant Higgs would not quit his post until he had assisted his companion to escape. In each of the foregoing instances, Lieutenant Higgs at once re-ascended in a new balloon.