Gust Billis served in the United States Army during World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
His award citation reads:
- 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 Gust Billis (ASN: 2041307), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Bois-d'Amont, France 12 October 1918. With disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Billis saved the life of an officer of his company by attacking and killing two Germans who were about to strike the officer in the back. Later the same day he attacked, of his own accord, several machine-gun nests, always returning with prisoners, machine guns, or both.
Billis's official residence was listed as Menomonie, Wisconsin.[1]