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 (SC) Walter Albert Buck (NSN: 0-16112), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as the Director of the Navy Material Redistribution of Disposal Administration and as Chief of the Property Disposition Branch, Material Division, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy from the period 2 May 1944 to present date. Tireless in his efforts and skillful in the handling of the extremely complicated and expansive problem of organizing the Navy’s redistribution and disposal offices and the establishment of the Navy’s policies and procedures covering excess and surplus Navy property, Rear Admiral Buck spearheaded the Navy’s efforts to prepare for the tremendous job of redistributing and disposing of Navy surpluses resulting form World War II. By his splendid performance of duty and excellent leadership Rear Admiral Buck rendered invaluable service towards the effective prosecution of the war in orderly handling of Navy surplus.