The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Arnold Frederic Schade (NSN: 0-72415/1100), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander Middle East Force during the period 1 December 1963 to 31 May 1964. An extremely competent and resourceful leader, Rear Admiral Schade has been responsible for and had directly supervised the preparation and implementation of naval plans for exercises, contingencies, and the emergency evacuation of United States nationals from the Middle East, South Asia, and the East Coast of Africa. During the period 26 November to about 6 December 1963, after complete planning and programming, he executed Operation CHO-BAHAR, a joint U.S. Navy-Imperial Iranian Navy civic action project along the Gulf of Oman. His outstanding initiative in securing the cooperative efforts of Operation HANDCLASP, CARE, World Medical Research Foundation, and a University of Pennsylvania Medical Team insured the successful completion of this humanitarian mission. On 13 January 1964, he skillfully directed the evacuation of 61 Americans from Zanzibar by a destroyer from his force and maintained special surveillance in that area, under extremely adverse conditions, during the East African Army mutinies in early 1964. His actions were both forceful and highly efficient. After extensive and detailed planning by COMIDEASTFOR, all units of the Middle East Force, augmented by an LSD, participated in joint U.S.-Iranian Exercise DELAWAR 12 to 15 April 1964, under the overall direction of USCINCMEAFSA. Rear Admiral Schade’s leadership and highly professional performance were inspirational. He was instrumental in integrating Navy units of the United States and Iran into an effective functioning team for this significant exercise. Through his ability as a statesman, as well as a naval officer, he successfully completed long and sensitive negotiations that provided the opportunity for a United States destroyer to visit Hodeia, Yemen, 10 to 14 May 1964, with the attendant benefits to United States prestige. By his outstanding leadership, judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty throughout, Rear Admiral Schade upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.