James E. Breslin

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James E. Breslin, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cote- de-Chatillon, France, October 15, 1918. Second Lieutenant Breslin was in charge of a combat liaison platoon during the offensive operations at Cote-de-Chatillon. When the leading companies were held up by intense concentrated machine-gun fire, he courageously led his platoon forward and penetrated the enemy’s lines for a depth of 1 kilometer, his command being reduced by heavy casualties to only 12 men. In severe hand-to-hand fighting he captured 2 machine-gun nests and 40 prisoners, and obtained valuable information regarding the hostile positions, which enabled the leading companies to continue the advance.