The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney (NSN: 0-9612/1103), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Aide and Chief of Staff to the Commander THIRD Fleet from 15 June 1944 to 22 October 1944, and from 27 October 1944 to 19 September 1945. During this unparalleled period in naval history, Rear Admiral Carney participated in the capture of Palau and strikes on Central Pacific and Bonin Islands Japanese strongholds, the Philippine Campaign and particularly the destruction of the majority of the units of the Japanese Fleet in the Philippine Sea battles, strikes on Formosa, in the East China Sea, Iwo Jima, Okinawa-Gunto, and the Japanese homeland from the Ryukyus to Hokkaido. During these operations the Japanese Navy was virtually destroyed, its air power was reduced to inconsequential strength, and transportation, shipping, and industrial targets were destroyed. These operations were a decisive factor in Japan’s capitulation and in bringing about the final surrender. Rear Admiral Carney exercised sound judgment and displayed superior strategic and tactical ability in the conception, correlation, and successful execution of these many offensive operations, and in the initial landing and occupation of Japan. His intrepid ability to conceive brilliant operations designed to completely surprise the enemy and his unerringly correct evaluation of the situation at all times was to a great extent responsible for the outstanding success of these campaigns. His initiative, aggressive leadership and courage in combat and under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney (NSN: 0-9612/1103), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Aide and Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey, Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, from 26 July 1943 to 5 June 1944. Displaying sound judgment and distinctive tactical ability, Rear Admiral Carney conceived and correlated the many offensive operations carried out in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago Areas. Through his comprehensive knowledge of logistics and his expert planning, he enabled our forces to exert their greatest strength against the enemy and administer a series of crushing defeats on the Japanese. His complete understanding of military and naval strategy and his timely advice to the Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force were contributing factors in the brilliant success of our operations in this vital area throughout a period of intensive activity. Rear Admiral Carney’s forceful leadership and superb professional skill were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Robert Bostwick Carney (NSN: 0-9612/1103), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Operations Officer and later as Chief of Staff, Support Force, Task Force TWENTY-FOUR, United States Atlantic Fleet during the period 3 March 1941 to 17 April 1942. With remarkable and distinctive skill, Captain Carney prepared all operational plans preceding and during belligerent operations of the Force. In this connection, he made important contributions to the escort-of-convoy instructions which resulted in the notable record of the safe escort of over two thousand ships with a loss of only eight ships, and the development of escort tactics which have proven highly effective in combating the submarine menace. The success of these operations was enhanced by the specialized training program for surface vessels exhaustively planned and developed by Captain Carney.