The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain John L. Counihan, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from December 1957 to August 1961 as Commander U.S. Naval Activities, Port Lyautey, Kenitra, Morocco. During this period, Captain Counihan has been highly successful in enhancing the prestige and stature of the United States through his contributions in the fields of international understanding and inter-Allied cooperation. Advocating and practicing closer relations with Moroccan and French peoples to the mutual advantage of all, he has taken a strong personal interest in all aspects of these relationships, particularly in matters concerning children. He has made possible the entry of selected Moroccan children into the dependents’ school at Port Lyautey, thereby gaining the friendship and gratitude of both parents and children. He has projected the image of good neighbor and helpful friend for the United States. His program of friendship and mutual respect has been so successful that U.S. Naval Activities, Port Lyautey, was awarded the Freedoms Foundation George Washington Medal for Outstanding Achievement for 1960.