The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Colonel Walter L. J. Bayler (MCSN: 0-4235), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the line of his profession. Lieutenant Colonel Bayler arrived at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, by air with the rear echelon of this group on 30 August 1942, along with thirty other aircraft and immediately took over the duties of Group Communications Officer and Assistant Group Operations Officer. With hardly any equipment of personnel, Lieutenant Colonel Bayler re-established the then existing communication facilities so as to successfully operate the additional aircraft and for many more aircraft that had later flown in. This required special ability, energy, and tenacity to keep this equipment operating. Much of this time he was required to operate this equipment himself. Due to this conspicuous service communications have been maintained in spite of the many failures caused by enemy bombings and shellings. (Lieutenant Colonel Bayler is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)