Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to General John Adams Wickham, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1976. The distinctive accomplishments of General Wickham reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.