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 Bruce Epley (ASN: 734104), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Frapelle, France, 17 August 1918. Rather than ask another to undertake so dangerous a mission, Sergeant Epley himself cut the enemy’s wire under heavy bombardment and led his section to its objective. Later, in the absence of his platoon commander, he assumed command of his platoon and directed the consolidation of its position. He then crossed an open field under heavy machine-gun fire to locate another platoon which had become lost, found the remnants of the platoon, which he reorganized and led to the objective. Though he had been seriously gassed, this soldier continued on duty throughout the three days’ bombardment, refusing to be evacuated until he was ordered to the rear.