The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Commander Ellis Lando, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of a Division of trawlers engaged in the difficult and hazardous duty of sweeping for and removing mines of the North Sea Barrage, and especially for his heroic conduct at the time of the destruction by a mine of the RICHARD BULKLEY, when he jumped overboard from his flagship, the U.S.S. WILLIAM JOHNSON, in a rough sea, and rescued Seaman First Class Antimo Perfidio who was at the time unconscious.