The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General William E. Riley (MCSN: 0-829), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Assistant War Plans Officer and subsequently as Assistant Chief of Staff, War Plans, on the Staff of the Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force in the preparations for the operations of troops of that command from 22 July 1943 to 8 April 1944. Displaying keen insight into the problems of amphibious warfare, painstaking care in planning, and shrewd and skillful judgment, Brigadier General Riley was instrumental in preparing plans for the assault of Vella Lavella, Bougainville, Green and Emirau Island which materially advanced the progress of the war and resulted in the saving of large numbers of lives of Allied troops. His thorough knowledge of landing operations and his grasp of the strategic situation contributed in large part toward enabling the theater commander to by-pass heavily defended enemy bases, thereby hastening operations at a minimum cost in casualties. The comprehensive knowledge, brilliant strategic planning, and careful preparation displayed by Brigadier General Riley throughout this period reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.