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Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander, Task Force 77, in Korea from 5 May to 15 August 1951. Rear Admiral Henderson achieved distinctive success in maintaining the task force under his command at a high level of combat readiness and efficiency to exert continued and relentless pressure against the enemy. Under is supervision, the heavily-armed aircraft attached to the task force carriers provided effective close air support for friendly ground troops and carried out daring strikes which resulted in extensive damage upon the enemy and constant interdiction of their key communications system. By the alertness and vigor of his command throughout this period, the enemy’s break-through was halted in May and their subsequent second Spring offensive was defeated.

Awards Received

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    February 4 – June 15, 1944
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 354 (September 1946)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander Aircraft, Munda, and Commander Fleet Air Wing ONE, Solomons and Bismarck Archipelago, from 4 February 1944 to 15 June 1944.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    Korean War
    All Hands (July 1951)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, was awarded a Silver Star in Lieu of a Sixth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander Fleet Air, Japan, from 1950 – 1951.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, was awarded a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    January 1945
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 354 (September 1946)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander Escort Carrier Task Unit at Luzon, Philippine Islands, in January 1945.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral [then Captain]

    Division:

    U.S.S. Princeton

    Action Date:

    November 1 – 11, 1943
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 336 (March 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral [then Captain] George R. Henderson, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PRINCETON in the Buka-Bonis Area, Bougainville, 1 – 2 November 1943, and at Rabaul, 5 and 11 November 1943. Admiral Henderson imbued his officers and men with a spirit of determined offensive action which enabled them to carry out vigorous strikes resulting in neutralization of important air bases in the Buka-Bonis Area, severe damage to many hostile combatant ships in Rabaul Harbor and destruction of numerous aircraft.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    October 18 – 29, 1944
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 354 (September 1946)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of an Escort Carrier Division from 18 to 24 October 1944 and from 28 to 29 October 1944.