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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Erwin A. Dennis, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Souplet, France, 17 October 1918. Second Lieutenant Dennis led a small patrol against an enemy machine-gun nest, which he successfully captured. He discovered a large enemy nest, and for three hours held a position against it until reinforced by a Vickers machine-gun. This aid forced the enemy to surrender; the capture consisted of eight officers, 145 men, three large Maxim guns, seven light machine guns, and three antitank guns.