The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral George Robert Luker (NSN: 0-71363), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from August 1966 to June 1967 as Commandant THIRD Naval District. Exercising outstanding leadership and managerial abilities, Rear Admiral Luker inspired the more than one hundred Department of the Navy activities under his command to a high level of cooperation and mutual assistance, not only between themselves, but with other military and non-military government agencies and their civilian communities. As overall coordinator of all military ships and seaborne cargo movements in the New York Harbor complex during the tugboat strike of January-February 1967, Rear Admiral Luker competently effected all required movements safely and on time. As Department of Defense Priority Placement Coordinator for Zone 1, covering nearly all military installations from Maine through Virginia, he ensured that all eligible employees affected by base transfer or closure were afforded job opportunities. His experience and judgment contributed markedly to the immense task of advance planning for the consolidation of the FIRST and THIRD Naval Districts. In representing Naval activity for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas, Rear Admiral Luker enhanced the image of the Navy as a versatile, ready, and essential element of the United States military posture, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.