The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] James Claude Legg, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Minesweeper U.S.S. VIERO (AM-52), while that vessel was engaged in salvaging the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), following an attack by enemy Japanese submarines, from 5 to 7 June 1942. Immediately proceeding through the hazardous submarine-infested waters, Lieutenant Commander Legg sent a working party on board the crippled YORKTOWN to connect a tow wire and, working untiringly for a twenty-four hour period in a desperate attempt to tow it clear of the perilous area, expeditiously ordered the tow wire out when a vessel to the starboard side of the YORKTOWN was hit by an enemy torpedo and sunk. Then, going to the aid of the survivors from the stricken ship, he effected their rescue and subsequently brought the VIREO alongside the heavily listing YORKTOWN to evacuate its Commanding Officer and the personnel on board. By his initiative, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lieutenant Legg upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.