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 Colonel (Coast Artillery Corps) George W. Ricker, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. As Director of the Department of Enlisted Specialist of the Coast Artillery School and Commanding Officer of the Enlisted Division at this School, during the period from August 1940 to September 1941, Colonel Ricker conceived with sound technical prevision and with comprehensive human understanding the expansion of the annual output of enlisted specialist graduated by 500 per cent to meet the emergency needs of Coast Artillery regiments, and supervised with conspicuous success the operation of these expanded courses, as well as of the newly established Officer Candidate Courses of the Coast Artillery School. Later, as Chief of the Training Section in the Office of the Chief of Coast Artillery, he rendered services of marked value to the Government.