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 Private Louis James Silva (ASN: 2263395), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 363d Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Very, France, 26 September 1918. After the Advance of his platoon had been held up by machine-gun fire, Private Silva, with a noncommissioned officer, attacked one machine gun and put it out of action. This act resulted in the enemy abandoning two other machine guns and permitted the advance of his platoon.