The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to Captain Samuel Robert Shumaker (NSN: 0-9093), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States in connection with the development of the radio proximity fuze, 1 May 1941 to 17 July 1943. Confronted with the complex task of translating the concept of an electronically operated proximity fuze into an instrument of war capable of being manufactured in mass production, Captain Shumaker applied his own enthusiasm, energy and technical knowledge toward the development of this highly effective device. He planned and directed the design, manufacture and assembly of the hundreds of components of the fuze under conditions of utmost secrecy, and was largely responsible for one of the most potent offensives as well as defensive weapons of World War II.