The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant (CEC) David C. DeVicq, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1 July 1960 to 20 May 1961 as Officer in Charge of a special detail, Summer Support Activities, Construction Battalions, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Assuming duties of great responsibility in deploying with 60 men on a polar ice cap to begin construction of the Marie Byrd Station in Antarctica, Lieutenant DeVicq, along with his men, worked for 72 hours without sleep, in temperatures 35 degrees below zero, in order to provide water, food, and shelter for the unit after arrival at the ice cap. In addition, assembly of a 138,000-pound Peter Snow Miller was accomplished, without machinery to repair damaged parts, or power equipment to handle parts weighing up to 10 tons. The world’s largest Jamesway hut was then constructed by original field design when specially ordered material failed to arrive. Through Lieutenant DeVicq’s excellent leadership, technical ability, and skilled supervision, Marie Byrd Station became available for limited operations in less than six months after his arrival on the site.