The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Fireman First Class Cecil W. Camp, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. When his ship, the U.S.S. EDWARD RUGLEDGE, was torpedoed and sunk off Fedala, French Morocco, on 12 November 1942, one of his shipmates was trapped while attempting to escape from the engine room. Fully aware that the ship was sinking rapidly, Fireman First Class Camp remained behind and struggled with the wire mesh guard until he managed to tear it off and free his comrades.