Maxwell rejoined his unit in time for the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon) in August 1944 and the following advance inland. On September 7, near Besançon in eastern France, Technician Fifth Grade (Corporal) Maxwell, while under enemy fire, risked his life in order to protect the lives of other soldiers by falling on an enemy hand grenade and absorbing the blast with his body. He survived the wounds from the grenade blast and was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 6, 1945. The medal was presented to him by Major General Clarence Danielson at the Camp Carson Convalescent Hospital in Colorado on May 12. He also received an oak leaf cluster to his Silver Star, which was awarded for an earlier action on September 7, 1944.