The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General William Frederic Marquat (ASN: 0-6533), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, as Anti-Aircraft Officer, General Headquarters and Commanding General, 14th Anti-Aircraft Command, Southwest Pacific Area, from April 1942 to June 1945. With brilliant technical skill, great resourcefulness, and able direction, General Marquat developed the anti-aircraft artillery to an unusually high degree of combat efficiency. From the time of organization of the Southwest Pacific Area through the Papua, New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Bismarck Archipelago, Southern Philippines and Luzon Campaigns, he directed and supervised its training and coordinated its employment. By his sound judgment, energetic leadership and professional ability, General Marquat made a material contribution to the successful anti-aircraft defenses of the Southwest Pacific Area.

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 Brigadier General William Frederic Marquat (ASN: 0-6533), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, in the Philippine Islands, from 5 November 1941 to 11 March 1942. As Chief of Staff, Philippine Coast Artillery Command, Brigadier General Marquat devised a comprehensive system of seacoast artillery defense for the island sea areas of the Philippine Archipelago. He contrived the organization and training of Coast Artillery elements of the Philippine Army. On the outbreak of hostilities, working with speed and precision, he planned the constitution of an additional anti-aircraft regiment so effectively that personnel and material were assembled in action and in combat positions within twenty-eight hours. He prepared effectively the dispositions of mobile anti-aircraft elements for the defense of the Bataan Peninsula and supervised the conduct of the anti-aircraft defense. He planned and supervised the installation of additional seacoast defenses for the Bataan Peninsula. His brilliant technical ability, his capacity for rapid and sustained efforts and his genius for improvisation to meet the needs of the situation contributed immeasurably to the ability of the command to offer sustained resistance.