The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral [then Rear Admiral] William Sims Farber, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States while SubCNO from 4 October 1943 to 31 August 1945. Admiral Farber advanced development of naval vessels and the means to support them in action to a degree exceeding in scope and effectiveness any precedent in the history of war. He assured the coordination of the maze of agencies engaged in building, arming and supporting the fleet and in arming a vast number of merchant Marine vessels.