The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Commander Frank Loftin, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of a squadron of sub chasers operating against enemy submarines in the Adriatic during World War I, and later as U.S. Naval Representative in Dalmatia, where his tact, judgment, and firmness contributed in an important degree to the preservation of order in a country where conditions were greatly disturbed and to the settlement of many puzzling diplomatic questions with regard to which he had not instructions from higher authority.