The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Horace Christopher Laird, 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 Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot, Norfolk, Virginia, prior to and during the landing operations in French Morocco, 8 – 11 November 1942. Captain Laird labored tirelessly in organizing, equipping and operating effective repair facilities for the overhaul, maintenance and re-fitting of ship borne landing craft.