The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Commander of the Northern Attack Group of the Western Task Force, engaged in the occupation of French Morocco, in November 1942. Rear Admiral Kelly conducted the ships of his group in complete darkness to their stations for the assault on the town of Port Lyautey which, with certain airdromes in the vicinity, he had been assigned to occupy preparatory to further operations against Casablanca. Having successfully completed the approach phase, he directed the ship-to-shore movement early in the morning of 8 November, landing troops against severe opposition. Throughout the ensuing action, which lasted until the morning of 11 November, strong hostile batteries were neutralized by heavy and accurate gunfire from the ships of his group, and the strategic areas captured.