The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Darrell A. Stratton, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the LST 338 during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Lieutenant Commander Stratton expertly directed the construction of a pontoon causeway for the disembarking of troops and vehicles in the face of severe enemy opposition, and calmly completed unloading despite heavy artillery fire.