His citation read: Major General Leslie Richard Groves, as Commanding General, Manhattan Engineer District, Army Service Forces, from June 1942 to August 1945 coordinated, administered and controlled a project of unprecedented, world-wide significance – the development of the Atomic Bomb.
Begrundelsen lyder: Generalmajor Leslie Richard Groves koordinerede, administrerede og kontrollerede som kommanderende general for Manhattan Engineer District, Army Service Forces, fra juni 1942 til august 1945 et projekt af hidtil uset verdensomspændende betydning - udviklingen af atombomben.