The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Ray D. Anderson (NSN: 0-195728), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of an LCI(L), and subsequently as Division, Group and Flotilla Commander of LCI(L)’s during a prolonged period of almost continuous offensive operations against the enemy in the Central Mediterranean from April 1943 to May 1945. Lieutenant Commander Anderson, with great professional skill and resourcefulness, ably trained and directed the performance of his crew prior to and during the assaults on Sicily, Salerno and Anzio. Subsequently, as a Division and Group Commander of LCI(L)’s, he successfully readied and trained ships and inexperienced crews under his command to such a high degree of efficiency that, despite the exacting and constant operational demands placed upon him, a high state of personnel and material readiness was maintained, which contributed immeasurably to the success of the operation on Southern France. Following this, by his initiative and unremitting efforts as an LCI Flotilla Commander, he was largely responsible for the ability of the LCI’s to fulfill an exceptionally heavy schedule of assignments for his ships, at the same time maintaining an exceptionally high degree of morale among the offices and men under his command. The extraordinary ability, sound judgment, and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Anderson during this period reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.