The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General George Churchill Kenney (ASN: 0-8940), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility from 4 August 1942 to 1 September 1943. As commander of the Allied Air Forces, General Kenney revitalized the Air arm in the Southwest Pacific area. Initially his dynamic leadership made inadequate resources effective out of all proportion to their size and, as the force was built up, his constant bold extension of activity kept all elements of his command at a high pitch of aggressive effort. His brilliant tactical conceptions were largely responsible for the defeat of the Japanese attempt to capture Port Moresby, for the transportation and support of the ground forces which drove the enemy out of Papua, and for the relentless reduction of enemy air and naval strength on the north coast of New Guinea and in the Bismarck Archipelago. During this period General Kenney wrested the command of the air from the enemy, thus creating in the Southwest Pacific area a situation favorable for large scale coordinated offensive operations. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant General Kenney and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General George Churchill Kenney (ASN: 0-8940), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the FIFTH Air Force in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations and Pacific Theater of Operations from 1942 to 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Kenney and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.