The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander James E. Nolan, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States prior to the assault on Sicily in July 1943. Establishing advance bases, Lieutenant Commander Nolan worked with such skill and efficiency that our forces were able to use the bases with a minimum loss of time. He contributed in a large measure to the success of the operations.