The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral John Walter Reeves, Jr., 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 a task group of carriers and screening vessels in operations in the Pacific from March through June 1944. With brilliant tactical skill and exceptional foresight, Admiral Reeves enabled his intrepid fliers to attack hostile shipping and shore installations at Palau and Yap with exceptional success. In the battle for the Marianas his superbly coordinated forces contributed in large measure to overwhelming destruction of enemy air resistance and the crippling of important units of the Japanese fleet.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral John Walter Reeves, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander, Alaskan Sector, from June 1942 to August 1943. With supply and transport problems under his personal supervision, Rear Admiral Reeves was distinctly successful in providing necessary facilities during the movement of our forces along the Aleutian chain. As task group commander of the North Pacific Force, he assisted effectively in supplying escort ships.