The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Commander Edward Elwell Spafford, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in Charge of operations at Base TWENTY-FIVE and as Hunt Commander of the Otranto Barrage; and later for especially able performance of important duty in charge of a sub chaser detachment sent out to investigate and report upon political and military conditions in the disturbed areas of the Adriatic coast during World War I.