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) Elliott E. McDowell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Amblimont, France, 8 November 1918. Lieutenant McDowell displayed unusual courage and determination in making a patrol under particularly hazardous circumstances, accompanied by only one soldier Crossing the River Meuse, the east bank of which and the ridge east of it were known to be strongly held by the enemy, they proceeded through numerous machine-gun nests over the ridge, penetrating three kilometers into the hostile position and returning with important information concerning the enemy occupation.