The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] James Franklin Merritt, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while Commanding a Group of Patrol Planes, attached to Patrol Squadron THIRTY-FOUR (VP-34), in the Pacific Ocean War Area, on the night of January 27, 1944. Skilled and courageous as he led his force of four Catalina patrol planes in a determined attack on a large Japanese convoy, Lieutenant Commander Merritt selected the largest ship in the group, a transport, as his own target and plunged sharply on the enemy vessel in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire concentrated upon his plane from the transport and five enemy escort vessels. Dropping his bombs from masthead-level despite damages to his plane and wounds sustained during the execution of his dive, he succeeded in completely destroying this valuable hostile unit. By his brilliant airmanship, resolute fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Merritt contributed materially to the fulfillment of this hazardous mission, and his great personal valor in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.