The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Charles Johnes Moore, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Chief of Staff to Commander FIFTH Fleet during the central Pacific campaign from August 1943 to September 1944. Captain Moore supervised planning for operations pointing toward capture and occupation of enemy-held positions in the Gilbert, Marshall and Mariana Islands and employed his comprehensive knowledge of combat strategy in guiding intricate details involved in executing these vital operations. Captain Moore contributed materially to the success of the FIFTH Fleet in securing control of the sea and air in the central Pacific and in defeating powerful units of the Japanese fleet in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea.