The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Draper Laurence Kauffman (NSN: 0-117673/110), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Philippines; and Commander in Chief Pacific Representative, Philippines, from July 1968 to May 1970. Exercising outstanding professional skill and sound judgment, Rear Admiral Kauffman was eminently successful in carrying out his responsibilities throughout this period. Among Rear Admiral Kauffman’s notable achievements and participative efforts were his personal direction of a study group which effected a clarification of orders for sentries in the use of fire weapons following a shooting incident at Naval Station, Sangley Point, on 26 July 1968; the rescue of survivors and restoration of the disaster area to normal conditions in connection with the earthquake in Manila on 2 August 1968; the receipt by his command of the Navy Achievement Award for outstanding support of the Navy’s Cost Reduction Plan; and the effecting of tangible monetary savings in regard to increases in jet fuel production. Additionally, Rear Admiral Kauffman served on a committee which resolved several major issues that threatened work disruption and violence at Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base; provided guidance for revision of the Filipino Employment Policy Instructions; participated as Operational Control Authority in the constructive shipping portion of Exercise SEA SPIRIT and in Mutual Defense Board activities; and conducted an aggressive community relations program, thereby contributing immeasurably to the image of the United States. Rear Admiral Kauffman’s distinguished performance of duty reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Navy Cross
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Navy Cross
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 353 (August 1946)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Commander Draper Laurence Kauffman (NSN: 0-117673/110), United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief Staff Officer, Commander Underwater Demolition Teams, during the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa Gunto from November 1944 to June 1945.
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Action Date:
June 14 & July 10 & 11, 1944
Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific: Serial 1598 (August 31, 1944)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Draper Laurence Kauffman (NSN: 0-117673/110), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of Underwater Demolition Team FIVE (UDT-5), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands, on 14 June 1944. During the investigation of the reefs and beaches off Charan-Kanoa, Saipan Island, Marianas Group, Commander Kauffman was in charge of the Underwater Demolitions Teams. While disembarking from landing craft and approaching the outer reef in rubber boats the Underwater Demolitions Teams came under very heavy mortar fire which had been sighted on the outer reef. In the face of this fire Commander Kauffman and his teams, swimming, carrying explosives on their backs, advanced one thousand yards meeting heavy machine gun and rifle fire and enduring many casualties. When the mission had been accomplished, he retired with his wounded to deliver valuable information to the Task Force Commander which contributed greatly to the success of the landing operation. He then learned that two of his men were missing. In spite of the heavy enemy machine gun and mortar barrage, Commander Kauffman unhesitatingly returned to the reef. By his courage and determination with complete disregard of his own safety, he personally rescued the two stranded men. By his cool courage, superb professional skill and devotion to duty throughout, Commander Kauffman contributed materially to the success of our assault landings on this strategic area and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantDivision:
Naval Air Station, Pearl HarborAction Date:
December 7, 1941
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Draper Laurence Kauffman (NSN: 0-117673/110), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptional courage, presence of mind, and devotion to duty and disregard for his personal safety during the Japanese attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Lieutenant Kauffman unloaded and examined a live 500-pound Japanese bomb lying on the grounds of Fort Schofield, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. His courage, confidence and exceptional skill made possible the recovery of all parts of this Japanese bomb for study by the Bureau of Ordnance of the Navy Department. The conduct of Lieutenant Kauffman throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Draper Laurence Kauffman (NSN: 0-117673/110), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commandant, NINTH Naval District/Commander Naval Base, Great Lakes, from June 1970 to May 1973. Rear Admiral Kauffman’s dedicated and highly competent administration of the Naval Reserve and recruiting programs throughout the thirteen-state NINTH Naval District significantly influenced the unqualified success of these efforts. His personal interest and initiative were applied with great skill in upgrading the status of and improving communications with Navy minority members within his district and in establishing an extremely high level of goodwill between the Navy and the civilian community. With the advent of Operation HOMECOMING and the return of former prisoners of war, Rear Admiral Kauffman became deeply involved in the entire scope of repatriation activities in his district. His skill, tact and compassion contributed greatly to the success of this operation. By his outstanding professional competence and inspiring devotion to duty, Rear Admiral Kauffman reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.