The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Chief Petty Officer Charles S. Keenan, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States on 12 November 1942. When the U.S.S. TASKER H. BLISS (AP-42) was sunk off Fedala, French Morocco, Chief Petty Officer Keenan hurried to the forecastle and attempted to rescue a shipmate trapped in No. 3 hold, leaving the vessel only when so ordered by his Commanding Officer. Finding another crew member struggling near him in the water without a life belt, he placed his shipmate on a plank before attempting to reach a lifeboat.