The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain (Retired) Finn Ronne, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as organizer, leader, and pioneer in Antarctic exploration throughout a distinguished career which encompassed six journeys to the Antarctic, the first of which was with the Admiral Byrd expedition of 1933 – 1935. A courageous, resourceful, and determined leader, Captain Ronne has been directly responsible for a vast accumulation of geographic and scientific knowledge culled from his several expeditions to Antarctica. Particularly significant was the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition of 1946 – 1948. During this period, in the face of severe financial and material limitations, Captain Ronne led a small Antarctic expedition which delineated the last unknown coastline in the world; conducted investigations in 11 branches of science; mapped known and previously unknown land totaling 450,000 square miles; discovered islands and mountain ranges in the newly found “Edith Ronne Land;” and identified at least 100 new geographical features.