The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Ernest Doyle McWhorter, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Commander of the Air Group of the Western Naval Task Force, prior to and during the attack phase of the occupation of French Morocco in November 1942. Rear Admiral McWhorter insured the complete and successful performance of the tasks assigned to the Group, by the exhaustive training and indoctrination of his Air Group and by the detailed planning for the tasks, during the exacting and comprehensive preparation for the protection of the Western Naval Attack Force. In gaining control of the air in that area, neutralizing hostile shore batteries, and conducting anti-submarine and air combat patrols while at the same time providing fighter coverage of our own troops landing at three widely separated points, the Air Group shot down 26 planes and destroyed more than 100 on the ground.