James Rutherford

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James Rutherford (RA06936401), Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Rutherford distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Songong-ni, Korea, on 2 July 1950. On that date, Sergeant First Class Rutherford left his observation post under heavy fire to destroy two SCR 300 radios which were left on a high hill overrun by the enemy. He reached the hill and destroyed the radios. He was immediately attacked by five of the enemy. He killed or wounded all of them. In so doing, he was wounded in the shoulder by a sub-machinegun, but he continued over the hill and threw grenades into enemy positions, killing and wounding several more. On his return to his post, he was hit again, this time in the ankle. He continued and destroyed his radio while under heavy fire and prevented the equipment, vital to the enemy, from falling into enemy hands.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 136 (October 26, 1950)