James J. Jovenall

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James J. Jovenall, Sergeant [then 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 G, 2d Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant Jovenall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yongnanghi, Korea, on 4 March 1951. On that date, Company G was given the mission of assaulting a commanding terrain feature held by a well-entrenched and determined hostile force. Thee attempts were made to secure the objective, but each time the heavy volume of enemy fire forced the friendly forces to withdraw. In the fourth assault, Sergeant Jovenall led his machine-gun squad across the fire-swept terrain and placed his weapons in an exposed position in order to bring effective fire to bear on the enemy forces. Despite the intense and accurate fire concentrated on him by the enemy, Sergeant Jovenall fearlessly directed fire on the hostile emplacements. During this action, an enemy grenade landed near one of the machine-gun emplacements. Without hesitation, Sergeant Jovenall hurled himself across the gunner and assistant gunner to protect them from shrapnel. Although painfully wounded, he refused medical treatment until the hill was secured.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 722 (September 25, 1951)