From October 1943 to March 1945 , he was assigned to the staff of Chief of Naval Operations Ernest J. King as assistant chief of naval operations for logistics plans , with additional duty as chairman of the Joint Logistics Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , in which capacity he accompanied King to the second Quebec and Yalta conferences . His logistics work earned him a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit . The accompanying citation stated : " His mastery of the relationship between strategy and logistics and his understanding of the process of procuring and distributing critical items have been important factors in meeting the needs of area and Fleet Commanders . In a field in which the magnitude and complexity of the problems were without precedent in the history of the Navy , he has displayed conspicuous ability and brilliant leadership . " He would later be quoted as saying , " I am tempted to make a slightly exaggerated statement : that logistics is all of warmaking , except shooting the guns , releasing the bombs , and firing the torpedoes . " In March 1945 , he returned to the Pacific theater as Commander of Battleship Division 3 , serving as Task Group Commander for two months at the Battle of Okinawa . He was awarded a second Gold Star for his Legion of Merit " as Commander of a Battleship Division , of a Task Group , and of a Fire Support Unit , in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa , Ryukyu Islands , from March through May 1945 . " After the war , he participated in the initial occupation of Japan until November 1945 , when he was assigned as chief of staff and aide to Admiral John H. Towers , Commander in Chief , Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas ( CINCPAC/CINCPOA ) . McCormick was named deputy commander in chief in December , and was advanced to the temporary rank of vice admiral on February 13 , 1946
second Quebec
Second Quebec Conference
Lynde D. McCormick