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) Stephen Bowen Elkins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. During the operations against the Hindenburg line Lieutenant Elkins, with three sergeants, occupied an outpost position in advance of the line, which was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. He so directed his small detachment that he succeeded in repulsing the attack, killing ten Germans, capturing five, and putting the rest of the enemy to flight. The bravery and determination displayed by this group were an inspiration to all who witnessed them.