The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commodore [then Captain] Cyril T. Simard, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, Midway Island, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the period 3 – 7 June 1942. The forces under his command successfully repulsed repeated enemy aerial attacks and carried out efficiently executed scouting operations in the area of action, thereby contributing materially to the decisive defeat of the enemy in the Battle of Midway.