James H. Rorty

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James H. Rorty, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Sommerance, France, October 11, 1918. Private Rorty was relieved from duty as a mechanic in order that he might serve as aid on cars during the Argonne offensive. While engaged in evacuating wounded from a culvert not far from enemy outposts, fragments of a shell pierced his clothing, and although he was suffering from shock he repeatedly ran ahead in the dark to guide the car over a road partly destroyed by shells and still under enemy machine-gun fire. Returning with relief cars, he again served as guide and as stretcher bearer until the evacuation was completed.