His ship then provided fire support during the allied landing of the southern landing force on Attu in May 1943 and Kitts was decorated with his second Legion of Merit for his service in the Aleutians. He was detached from "Nevada" in mid July 1943 and following the nomination for promotion to the flag rank by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he was promoted to the temporary rank of Rear admiral. Kitts was subsequently ordered to Washington, D.C. and assumed duty as Assistant to Chief of Bureau of Ordnance, his Academy classmate, now Vice admiral George F. Hussey Jr.