The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Benjamin Stacy Killmaster, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as representative of the Secretary of the Navy and as Director, Navy Liaison, Selective Service System from 1 October 1940 until 2 September 1945. Captain Killmaster did much to maintain a sound and cordial basis of cooperation between the Navy and the Selective Service System. As Chairman of the Joint Army-Navy Selective Service Committee prior to the enactment of the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940, Captain Killmaster acquired a broad knowledge of the over-all functioning of the Service. He aided greatly in the formulation of the policies that guided the Service in the critical period of its organization and early operations. In command of the 74 Liaison Officers attached to the Service and assigned to the various headquarters, he proved himself an outstanding administrator and leader, and contributed essentially to the rapid and efficient mobilization of the armed forces of the United States.