The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Frank Kalasinsky, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 16 April to 6 June 1961 as Commander Task Unit 48.7.6. Engaged in salvage operations of U.S.S. BALDWIN (DD-624), which grounded off Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, Lieutenant Commander Kalasinsky exercised outstanding leadership, sound judgment, and unwavering tenacity in the face of extremely adverse and hazardous circumstances. Instilling within his men the will to carry on after hard-won gains had been negated time and again by gale-force winds and heavy seas, he made a major contribution to the success of the seven-week operation by his dynamic personal direction.