The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Elver J. Bowles (ASN: 1956164), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 308th Trench Mortar Battery, 158th Field Artillery Brigade, 83d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Brabant-sur-Meuse, France, 23 October 1918. During an offensive action in the Boissois Bois, Sergeant Bowles remained in the open under direct fire of machine gun and artillery, assisting another soldier in operating a trench mortar for 57 minutes, firing 230 bombs. Repeatedly knocked down from concussion from exploding shells and bombs, he remained at his post until exhausted.