Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

394th Infantry regiment, 99th Infantry Division (394th Infantry regiment, 99th Infantry Division)

Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William James, Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 16 December 1944, at Lanzerath, Belgium. Following a relentless early morning artillery barrage, Corporal James courageously volunteered to probe the enemy area to gather intelligence information. Returning later to the platoon position, he reported small arms fire nearby. Knowing an enemy attack was imminent, he moved with daring boldness to the most forward foxhole position. Soon, two columns of German paratroopers were sighted marching on the road through Lanzerath about 200 yards from his position. Corporal James fearlessly engaged the enemy with devastating small arms fire inflicting many casualties. Throughout the day, he fired his weapon point-blank at the enemy and helped repel three separate frontal attacks despite being outnumbered fifteen-to-one. On the second attack, Corporal James left his foxhole and boldly manned an exposed .50 caliber machine gun where he increased the hail of fire on the advancing enemy. As the third frontal attack began, he ran in the face of withering fire to a forward foxhole where he placed effective point-blank "grease gun" fire on the enemy. During the fourth and final attack, Corporal James emptied his last rounds of ammunition at the enemy soldiers attacking from the rear. As he prepared to escape from the encirclement, a burst of automatic weapons fire ripped through the right side of his face with the impact slamming him to the bottom of the foxhole where he was captured at gun point. Although seriously wounded, he continued to struggle until he finally passed out from loss of blood. Corporal James' courage and refusal to surrender despite insurmountable odds were responsible for inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and delaying their advance for nearly 18 hours. Corporal James' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 99th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.