The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Lewis J. Fields (MCSN: 0-5096), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, from July 1968 through June 1970. Responsible for the education of all Marines, with particular emphasis on the professional training of Marine Corps officers in all aspects of amphibious operations, Lieutenant General Fields skillfully implemented a comprehensive, progressive program of basic, intermediate, and advanced instruction, contributing significantly to the high level of leadership and readiness of the Corps by providing highly competent commanders and staff officers for the air-ground forces. During this period, more than 26,000 Marines, as well as officers of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and over forty foreign countries, successfully advanced their military education and professional competence in courses of instruction that visibly reflected Lieutenant General Fields’ own personal character, experience, and refined capacity for planning, organization, and management. Under his dynamic leadership, a Computer Science School initiated training of local personnel in programming and computer operations and provided professional education in computer science to selected officers and enlisted personnel in support of vital Marine Corps-wide systems requirements. Lieutenant General Fields’ outstanding service constituted a direct contribution of cardinal importance to the efforts of this nation in Southeast Asia as well as to the future capabilities of the Armed Forces of the United States in amphibious operations and other special operations. His superb performance of duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Lewis J. Fields (MCSN: 0-5096), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General FIRST Marine Division from 15 August 1965 to 30 September 1966. Assuming command of the Davison at Camp Pendleton, California, General Fields immediately set about completing plans for the deployment of elements of the Division and the Division Headquarters to Okinawa. Arriving on Okinawa August 1965, he demonstrated his extraordinary professional abilities as he instituted a rigorous training program to prepare his command for incremental deployment. During the period from August 1965 to March 1966, Division units were readies and embarked for combat duty in the Republic of Vietnam. The forces involved were fully trained and equipped, and subsequently reflected great credit upon their parent unit in their record of combat against communist forces to include a distinguished performance in the important field of civic action. Assigned additional duty as Commander, Task Force SEVENTY-NINE, of the SEVENTH Fleet, General Fields was responsible for readying, training, and providing reinforced infantry battalions for the Special Landing Force of the SEVENTH Fleet. This Landing Force, consisting of ground and helicopter units, executed eight amphibious raids on hostile regions along the coast of South Vietnam, each time with consummate skill and effectiveness. In March 1966, the Division Headquarters deployed to South Vietnam, assuming responsibility for the Tactical Area of Responsibility at Chu Lai. In addition to effectively defending the airfield and its supporting facilities from attack, the Division compiled an enviable record of offensive successes, including Operations HOT SPRINGS, COLORADO, and FRESNO. Due largely to his judicious employment of his forces in these operations, the Marines inflicted heavy personal and material losses upon the enemy while sustaining minimal losses themselves. Demonstrating a keen appreciation of tactics, General Fields’ command perfected the Sing Ray concept, in which small reconnaissance units were positioned in enemy territory where they called in artillery and air attacks on the enemy, with damaging results. By his selfless devotion to duty and extraordinary professional ability during a critical year, General Fields contributed greatly to the accomplishment of the United States’ objectives in the Republic of Vietnam, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.