James J. Washa

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James J. Washa, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Chipilly Ridge, France, August 9, 1918. Exposing himself to heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, Sergeant Washa single-handed silenced two enemy machine-gun nests, which had been holding up his platoon On his own initiative he advanced against the first of the enemy posts and killed its crew. He then attacked the second position and took the enemy crew prisoner.