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 Commodore Robert F. Batchelder (NSN: 0-22714), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States between 23 August 1944 and 1 October 1945. He was senior assistant to the Director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration in New York in which capacity he rendered exceptionally meritorious service in connection with the administration and supervision of important phases of the Navy’s surplus property disposal program. On 19 April 1945, he became Director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration where his devotion to duty and skill in discharging those duties earned the commendation of his superiors. By his outstanding performance in fulfilling the responsibility and duties assigned him, he has rendered outstanding service to the Navy in its surplus property disposal program.