The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit (Navy Award) to Commissioned Warrant Officer M. Ines Harper, Royal Australian Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. While on temporary duty with Amphibious Force, South Pacific, July to August 1942, in the Solomon Islands, Warrant Officer Harper piloted the leading transport in action against Japanese forces. Through his familiarity with the waters in the vicinity of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, he piloted ships through extremely hazardous channels and assisted in re-floating and bringing to safe harbors those damaged in action.