The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Stanley Maitland Barnes (NSN: 0-73648), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander of a Screening Group of the Western Naval Task Force during the amphibious invasion of Southern France in August 1944. Lieutenant Commander Barnes skillfully and energetically organized and disposed his forces consisting of three squadrons of Motor Torpedo Boats to conduct many screening and diversionary missions in support of the main amphibious landings of elements of the U.S. SEVENTH Army on the Coast of Southern France. These operations, daringly and effectively executed by units of his command, were contributing factors in preventing the movement of enemy reinforcements to central target areas. In addition, his screening group provided vital protection for shipping against raids by light enemy surface forces and from human submarine attack. Subsequently, his forces continued relentlessly to seek out and destroy enemy seaborne traffic on the right flank of the assault area and in the Gulf of Genoa, frustrating enemy attempts at seaward evacuation from ports threatened by our advancing ground forces. The exceptional ability, exemplary leadership, and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Barnes reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Commander Barnes is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)