James R. Dunn

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James R. Dunn, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-Brabant-sur-Meuse, France, October 8, 1918. Private Dunn, with four other soldiers, fearlessly attacked eight machine-gun positions and succeeded, after stubborn resistance, in capturing both the guns and the crews.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to James R. Dunn (35631366), Private, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion on 12 – 13 September 1944 near Dieulouard, France. With complete disregard of his own personal safety, Private Dunn twice removed wounded under fire and carefully brought them down the hill to the aid station. When telephone communication failed, Private Dunn drove up the hill under particularly heavy fire to reestablish contact with Captain Bell and coordination with higher headquarters. During a lull in delivering messages, he crawled over to a machine gun position and relieved the EM there by firing one thousand rounds. Then he crawled 50 yards to the next machine gum emplacement to fire another one thousand rounds. As he was crawling to the third machine gun position, the concussion of a nearby falling artillery shell knocked him down. Returning to his messenger duties, Private Dunn continued to expose himself in the execution of his work. When the order was given relieving the company, Private Dunn again was an inspiration to all helping evacuate the weapons and EM from the hill. Throughout this action, Private Dunn displayed exceptional coolness, courage, and attention to duty according to the highest traditions of the military service.