The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain [then Commander] Clifford A. Fines, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Operations Officer of the Naval Operating Base, Oran, during the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Captain Fines, by his marked skill in maintaining prescribed sailings, contributed greatly to effective employment of assault and subsequent shipping.