The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral William Reynolds Purnell, United States Navy, for especially meritorious service as Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, and Commander U.S. Forces, Southwest, Pacific, since the outbreak of war for duties involving great responsibility connected with formulation plans, counseling their application and aid in directing execution, especially of offensive missions of forces of this command which have resulted in substantial damage to the enemy together with skill and tact displayed in, negotiating, conferring and dealing with Commanders of the Allied Forces during World War II.

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 Rear Admiral William Reynolds Purnell, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Chief Naval Officer for Material and as a member of the Military Policy Committee in connection with the development of the atomic bomb, 11 October 1943 to 31 August 1945. Admiral Purnell coordinated and directed the vast complex tasks of the agencies fulfilling the logistics requirements of the Navy so that the operating Navy was maintained and supplied with a degree of success unprecedented in the history of ware. In his additional duty in connection with the atom bomb, Admiral Purnell rendered wise counsel and assistance and made a significant contribution to the successful results obtained.