Presidential unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to DESTROYER SQUADRON 23 on October 17, 1945 in ceremonies at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington D.C. Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal presented the award to ships of the Squadron USS CHARLES AUSBURNE, USS CLAXTON, USS DYSON, USS CONVERSE, USS STANLY AND USS SPENCE. All but the SPENCE and STANLY were present, the SPENCE was lost at sea in a typhoon in December 1944 and the STANLEY was in San Francisco.
Among the dignitaries present were Admiral William F. Halsey, Admiral Marc A. Mitscher and Commodore Arleigh A. Burke. Commodore Burke commanded the Squadron during the period covered by the citation and had given them the famous name "Little Beavers". At that time also he earned the name "31 knot Burke" which stuck with him the rest of his life. Later as Admiral Burke he became Chief of Naval Operations, the highest ranking officer in the Navy.
Below is the text of the citation:
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to
DESTROYER SQUADRON TWENTY THREE
consisting of the USS CHARLES AUSBURNE, USS CLAXTON, USS DYSON, USS SPENCE, USS CONVERSE and USS STANLY
for services as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extrordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomon Islands Campaign, from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. Boldly penetrating submarine-infested waters during a period when Japanese naval and air power was at its height, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE operated in daring defiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy's strongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanese coastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the major invasion operations in this area. Commanded by forceful leaders and manned by aggressive, fearless crews the ships of Squadron TWENTY THREE coordinated as a superb fighting team; they countered the enemy's fierce aerial bombing attacks and destroyed or routed his planes; they intercepted his surface task forces, sank or damaged his warships by torpedo fire and prevented interference with our transports. The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of the individual units in this indomitable combat group and of each skilled and courageous ship's company."
For the President.
JAMES FORRESTAL
Secretary of the Navy
This page revised Nov 6, 2004