THE ARMY-NAVY PRODUCTION AWARD

In 1906 the Navy instituted in the Fleet an award for excellence,
which has been known ever since as the Navy "E", First awarded for excel=
lence in gunnery, this was later extended to include outstanding performance
in engineering and communications. An honor not easily won nor lightly
bestowed, it became and has remained a matter of deep pride to men of the
Service who receive it.

When the rising tide of war in Europe placed a premium on the
production of war equipment, the Navy "x" award was extended to embrace
those plants and organizations which showed excellence in producing ships,
weapons, and equipment for the Navy. |

Then came Pearl Harbor = and with it a demand for war production
such as the world has never known ... and awareness that our fighting forces
and the men and women of American industry are partners in the great struggle
for human freedom «-. and on the part of all Americans a grim and enduring
resolve to work and fight together until victory in that struggle is final
and complete.

From that high resolve was born the Army-Navy Production Award
which stands today as our fighting forces! joint recognition of exceptional
performance on the production front ... of the determined persevering, un-
beatable spirit which can be satisfied only by achieving today what yester~

day seemed impossible.

 

sR