The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Louis Joseph Kirn (NSN: 0-71479/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Deputy Director, Joint Staff, from January 1965 to January 1966, and as Vice Director, Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from January through December 1966. In these assignments, embracing the development and prosecution of U.S. national political and military policy, Rear Admiral Kirn has displayed inspiring leadership and superb professional competence in supervising, coordinating, and guiding the Joint Staff and other agencies of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The deployment by the United States of large military forces to Southeast Asia, while maintaining balanced forces in other parts of the world, required the utmost professional quality in Joint Staff planning. Admiral Kirn’s astute military judgment and superior acumen contributed significantly to the effectiveness and responsiveness of the staff support provided the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense in the successful accomplishment of U.S. national objectives. Rear Admiral Kirn’s performance of duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Navy Cross
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3)Division:
U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3)Action Date:
1942
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Louis Joseph Kirn (NSN: 0-71479/1310), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement as Commander of Scouting Squadron THREE (VS-3), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Leading his squadron in a vigorous and precise dive-bombing assault against a Japanese naval Task Force, Lieutenant Commander Kirn, in the face of tremendous anti-aircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition, pressed home his attack with skill and determination, then returned his squadron intact to its carrier. By his superb airmanship and conscientious devotion to duty, he contributed immeasurably to the severe damaging of an enemy aircraft carrier. His courageous conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3)Division:
U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3)Action Date:
September 16 – October 5, 1942
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Louis Joseph Kirn (NSN: 0-71479/1310), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Commanding Officer of Scouting Squadron THREE (VS-3), attached to the U.S.S. SARATOGA (CV-3), in action against enemy surface forces in the Solomon Islands area between 16 September 1942 and 5 October 1942. While acting in the capacity as Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Commander Kirn displayed undaunted courage and intrepidity in leading his squadron to engage the enemy. On the morning of 16 September 1942, he led a striking force of dive bombers and torpedo planes against enemy surface vessels scoring one torpedo hit and many near misses with bombs. On the afternoon of the same day he led a striking force of dive bombers against an enemy light cruiser scoring four near misses with 1,000 pound bombs. On 25 September 1942, he led a striking force of dive bombers in an attack on four destroyers off Cape Esperance, scoring near misses and one probable hit. On 5 October 1942, he led a striking force of dive bombers on six destroyers about twenty-five miles north of Russell Islands, personally scoring a direct hit with a 1,000 pound bomb on one of the destroyers, causing it to sink within five minutes. In all of the foregoing contacts the attack was driven home despite heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire, and with the utmost disregard for his personal safety. His actions at all times were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Louis Joseph Kirn (NSN: 0-71479/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Naval Attach and United States Naval Attach for Air, London, from April 1967 through June 1970. During this period, Rear Admiral Kirn was responsible for the collection and reporting of essential intelligence information; for providing direct representation from the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps to the British Defense Establishment; and for providing expert counsel in Defense matters to the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James during a period of complex and critically dangerous worldwide political and military tensions. Rear Admiral Kirn provided outstanding liaison between the defense establishments of the United States and the United Kingdom, and also between the United States Department of Defense and the representatives of all nations represented militarily in London, thereby contributing directly and significantly to the achievement of optimum combined strength for defense of the United States and Great Britain and to the defense of the Free World. His brilliant leadership, his outstanding expertise in defense matters, his talent for human communication and his ceaseless dedicated efforts were instrumental in stimulating close voluntary cooperation among scattered elements of the United States Defense organizations within the United Kingdom as well as between these elements and the American Embassy, London. By his professional competence and diplomacy, Rear Admiral Kirn contributed significantly to the cause of peace, a greater understanding among nations, and to the preservation of the Free World. His distinguished and inspiring performance of duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Commander Louis Joseph Kirn (NSN: 0-71479/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Carrier Division TWO, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Western Pacific Area from 15 August 1944 to 25 March 1945. Skillfully planning air operations deep in enemy territory and under protracted hostile air attacks, Commander Kirn effected rapid and effective changes in intricately timed schedules and contributed materially to the heavy destruction inflicted by the Task Group upon the enemy. His resourcefulness and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Commander Kirn is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)