The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Arthur R. Gralla, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. NORTON SOUND (AVM-1), from 1 July through 15 September 1958. While his ship was engaged in a particularly difficult series of missile tests of great importance to the Navy, Captain Gralla, exercising unusual technical and professional competence, sound leadership, and outstanding initiative, successfully completed all operational and technical requirements of the program in unprecedentedly short time, thereby making a major contribution to the success of these tests.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
U.S.S. Norton Sound (AVN-1)Action Date:
July 1 – September 15, 1958
All Hands (August 1959) -
Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Rear AdmiralAction Date:
August 15, 1964 – March 2, 1966
All Hands (September 1966)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 Arthur R. Gralla, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander South Atlantic Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commander Task Force 86 from 15 August 1964 to 2 March 1966. During this period, Rear Admiral Gralla was responsible for and supervised the planning and execution of Operation UNITAS V (1964) and Operation UNITAS VI (1965), the combined antisubmarine warfare training exercised conducted annually by the naval forces of the United States and eight South American countries. Through his professional competence and efforts, he contributed in large measure to the success of the combined bilateral and multilateral operations.