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 Colonel (General Staff Corps) Kendall J. Fielder (ASN: 0-7450), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a duty of great responsibility. As Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, on and since 7 December 1941, Colonel Fielder has been faced with many complicated and delicate tasks vital to the security of the Department. Chief among these was the all-important problem of potential subversion within the Territory of Hawaii, resulting from the presence of more than 160,000 persons of Japanese blood, both enemy alien and citizen. Exercising rare ingenuity, diplomacy, patience and intelligence, Colonel Fielder has handled this potential menace to Department security so outstandingly that there has been no single instance of attempted or actual sabotage or subversion; on the other hand, members of the Japanese race and other varied racial groups have contributed greatly to the war effort. His effective handling of this and other civil problems is reflected in the high state of morale of the civilian population, and has been the subject of considerable favorable comment on the part of civil leaders. He has organized and operated in a superior manner censorship of mail, radio stations and press activities. Colonel Fielder has also coordinated most effectively Military and Naval Intelligence and activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Territory, to the end that all these intelligence units are operating in a thoroughly coordinated fashion. His efficient direction of intelligence has given the Commanding General accurate information at all times of both civil and military matters.