The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Robert R. Helen, United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Salvage Officer during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Commander Helen skillfully and efficiently supervised the clearance of wreckage left by the enemy. When a U.S. warship was brought into the harbor in a sinking condition he continued to direct the operations of a salvage party despite repeated enemy air attacks.