World War II ended 6 September 1945. The USS Charles Ausburne, in company with Dyson, Converse and Claxton, arrived at the Washington Navy Yard on 17 October 1945. In a ceremony on the 19th, Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal presented the Presidential Unit Citation to ships of Destroyer Squadron 23, the Ausburne, Dyson, Converse, Claxton, Stanly, and Spence, for "extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomon Islands Campaign, 1 November 1943 to 23 February 1944." Accompanying the Secretary were Admiral William F. Halsey, Admiral Marc A. Mitscher and Commodore Arleigh A. Burke. It was Commodore Burke who had given the "Little Beavers" their name and led them to victory during the period covered by the citation. On Navy Day, 27 October 1945, Charles Ausburne, as flagship of the "Little Beaver Squadron", was presented with a plaque by the Navy League commemorating the award of the Presidential Unit Citation.

DesRon 23 was the only destroyer squadron to earn a Presidential Unit Citation during World War II.

"For extraordinary 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."

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