Major JAMES E. DURHAM, received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action near Ploisy, France, July 19, 1918. When the officer commanding his machine-gun platoon had been wounded, Sergeant Durham took command of the platoon and the adjacent Infantry, whose officers had become casualties, displaying extraordinary heroism in leading both to attack the enemy artillery while subject to direct fire from their guns. By his conspicuous coolness and unfaltering courage at a very critical time, he inspired great confidence in the men under his control while consolidating the positions at the objective.

Major Durham joined the Legion of Valor in 1962 and resided in Colorado.