The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Captain [then Lieutenant Commander] Robert Dickinson Lowther, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of U.S.S. PC-624 during World War II. While escorting a convoy of six LSTs from Sicily to Bizerte, Tunisia, Captain Lowther picked up an unidentified radar contact closing on his port bow and immediately issued orders to illuminate the target with star shells. Recognizing the contact as an enemy submarine about to submerge, he fired several rounds of live ammunition before losing radar contact with the now submerged U-boat. Upon learning from his underwater sound operator that the submarine was still closing, Captain Lowther quickly altered his course, successfully evaded two torpedoes fired at his ship, and then skillfully pressed home his attack with depth charges, sinking what was later positively identified s the U-375. (Captain Lowther is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Robert Dickinson Lowther, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Through his detailed and intelligent preparation as commander of the control group of a task force, Lieutenant Commander Lowther directed ships with conspicuous skill, enabling his group to proceed without navigational aids and to lead the landing craft to the assigned beaches with minimum loss.

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Robert Dickinson Lowther, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II.