The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Chief Engineman Cyril J. Tuckfield, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in connection with trials of the buoyant ascent method of submarine escape in waters off Key West, Florida, during the period of 28 September to 2 October 1959. Repeatedly braving the hazards of rapid compression and decompression in performing these tests in the open sea at depths in excess of 150 feet. Chief Tuckfield, utilizing a method of escape not previously tested at these depths, succeeded in carrying out a buoyant ascent from a submarine at a depth of 302 feet. Through this record setting exploit, he not only helped to prove the feasibility of this method of escape from disabled submarines at a similar depth, but also contributed essentially to the safety and morale of submarine personnel.