The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Frank Melvin Whitaker (NSN: 0-73547), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron SEVENTEEN (VT-17) in the Marshall Islands area from 29 January to 2 February 1944. Lieutenant Commander Whitaker led his squadron on two pre-dawn glide bombing attacks, without fighter escort, against enemy air installations at Kwajalein and Engebi. Despite devastating anti-aircraft fire, his squadron so damaged the airfields that they were useless to the enemy. On a second assault the same day he attacked and sank a merchant vessel.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Frank Melvin Whitaker (NSN: 0-73547), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while commanding Torpedo Squadron SEVENTEEN (VT-17) in the New Ireland area from 25 December 1943 to 5 January 1944. Lieutenant Commander Whitaker led his squadron against Japanese vessels in Kavieng Harbor in the face of persistent anti-aircraft fire and intense fighter opposition. His squadron destroyed two large cargo vessels, one destroyer and three barges and severely damaged two cruisers, four destroyers, several small cargo ships, numerous barges and one torpedo boat.