The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Captain William Veazie Pratt, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I, as Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. Captain Pratt’s untiring energy and close cooperation with the Army in connection with its oversea movements of troops and supplies, and especially in the making up and routing of convoys, resulted in the successful movement of over 2,000,000 men without material loss of life during World War I.