The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Commander Godfrey DeCourcelles Chevalier, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in connection with the first aeronautical detachment to reach France, and as Commander of the United States Naval Air Station at Dunkirk, which was established and maintained in spite of constant bombing by the enemy. Later he commanded the assembly and repair base at Eastleigh, England.