James H. Jefferson

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to James H. Jefferson (RA15274687), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Jefferson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 21 July 1950. On that date positions of the 2d platoon, Company F, became untenable due to penetration by numerically superior enemy forces. Private First Class Jefferson, without regard to his personal safety, voluntarily remained in his position to cover the withdrawal of his platoon. He delivered a volume of accurate automatic rifle fire on the enemy, slowing the enemy and enabling the rest of his platoon to successfully withdrawal to new positions. In this heroic action Private First Class Jefferson was killed.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 15 (August 1, 1950)