The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral John Joseph Hyland (NSN: 0-73363), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander SEVENTH Fleet, United States Pacific Fleet during the period from December 1965 to November 1967. During this critical period of continued intensification of combat operations and the concomitant buildup of forces and facilities in Southeast Asia, Vice Admiral Hyland has demonstrated outstanding leadership, astute judgment and foresight in directing the complex and manifold operations of the SEVENTH Fleet in support of our national objectives in the Western Pacific. Under his dynamic and personal leadership all of the forces assigned to his command have been molded into a most potent and effective fighting fleet which covers the entire spectrum of naval operations. In the past twenty-three months the SEVENTH Fleet has expanded from 175 ships and 72,000 men to 220 ships and 80,000 men; naval gunfire operations have been expanded from support of our forces in South Vietnam to include targets along a portion of the North Vietnamese coastline; amphibious assault operations have been conducted along the entire South Vietnamese coastline in order to search for and destroy enemy personnel and equipment; and air strike operations against heavily defended targets in North Vietnam have been greatly expanded. Many of the operations conducted by the SEVENTH Fleet were without precedent in modern naval history, requiring the development and employment of new tactics, techniques and equipment. Coordinated electronic and tactical measures have been successfully developed to counter the surface-to-air missile threat; new weapons and equipment have been introduced into combat operations; and a positive radar surveillance and identification system has been established for all air operations over the Gulf of Tonkin and North Vietnam. These achievements are a direct result of Vice Admiral Hyland’s ability to master the complexities of integrating and employing new techniques, procedures, and equipment to meet the challenges posed by a fast changing combat environment. In addition to his deep involvement in and massive contribution to the advances mentioned above, Vice Admiral Hyland achieved that detailed and exacting coordination with other service commanders which was required in order to attain the maximum effectiveness and efficiency of combined operations against the common enemy. He continuously demonstrated the great tact and diplomacy which have been required to protect our vital national and naval interests in the Western Pacific. Through persuasive negotiation and personal leadership, he has served with distinction in nurturing effective channels for liaison and in furthering the United States goodwill and prestige with foreign nations. His performance in this duty of great responsibility reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.