The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Dion Williams, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General of the Second Marine Brigade and the U.S. Naval Forces serving on shore in the Republic of Nicaragua from April 1929 to June 1930. During this period these forces were engaged in direct cooperation with the Nicaraguan Government Forces, in suppressing insurrection and banditry in a large area of the country and so limiting the depredations of the bandit groups as to insure to the peaceful inhabitants of the country security in the pursuit of their lawful occupations. Brigadier General Williams directed the operations necessary to the accomplishment of this mission and coordinated the efforts of the personnel of the Second Marine Brigade and the Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua in such a manner as to accomplish the withdrawal of a large portion of the Marine Brigade after its relief by units of the Guardia Nacional especially trained for this purpose. The President of Nicaragua, in a letter addressed to the President of the United States, expressed his belief that the energy, frankness and ability displayed by General Williams had done much to establish and maintain peace and order in Nicaragua and had created and developed a better understanding and greater feeling of friendship between the governments of the United States and Nicaragua.