The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Mahlon Street Tisdale, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Task Group Commander of a task force during action against Japanese forces eastward of the Solomon Islands on 24 August 1942. His task force inflicted heavy losses on attacking Japanese air groups, thereby contributing in large measure to the ultimate success of our forces in this engagement.