The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral John Tucker Hayward (NSN: 0-63431/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from November 1970 to December 1971 as Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier. In addition to the great responsibilities associated with the operational matters within the Sea Frontier, which encompassed the greater proportion of the Mid-Pacific Ocean, Rear Admiral Hayward was assigned duties as Commander, FOURTEENTH Naval District; Commander Fleet Air Hawaii; and Commander, Naval Base Pearl Harbor. As Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier, Rear Admiral Hayward was instrumental in the maintenance of an optimum state of readiness among units assigned for antisubmarine warfare, reconnaissance, surveillance, naval control and protection of shipping and military search and rescue within the Hawaiian Sea Frontier. His personal direction in the operational control of assigned units engaged in missions resulted in significant contributions to the collection of intelligence important to national interests. Rear Admiral Hayward personally directed the planning, training and execution of highly successful recoveries of APOLLO spacecraft in the Mid-Pacific. As Commandant, FOURTEENTH Naval District, he led the realignment of the Naval Reserve Program in Hawaii to make it an integral and contributory support element of the U.S. Naval Forces in the Pacific. By his exemplary performance of duty throughout this period, Rear Admiral Hayward reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.