The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant George M. Ankers (NSN: 0-109227), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States under conditions of the gravest danger in the salvage of H.M.S. POZARICA, torpedoed light cruiser. The blocked harbor entrance to Oran was shortly opened for ships of unlimited size and draft; three sunken dry-docks in Oran were re-floated and returned to service; various torpedoed, bombed or scuttled freighters, troop transports, and war ships in the Mediterranean or in the harbors of Oran, Algiers, Bougie, Phillipeville, and Bone were removed as obstacles to navigation or salvaged from the bottom. Others were brought safely into port for repairs, or repaired afloat by divers so they might safely proceed in damaged condition back to the United Kingdom or the United States for final repair.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander George M. Ankers (NSN: 0-109227), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Salvage Officer at Bizerte, Tunisia, during the month of May 1943. As the enemy retreated across North Africa, they blocked the channel to Lake Bizerte, Tunisia, with 28 wrecked ships. Lieutenant Commander Ankers, with great skill and initiative, surveyed the blocked channel and made plans for blasting an opening through the obstructions. In spite of over 100 air raids he continued with great courage to direct he work for opening the harbor and in record time had so successfully completed his task that the devastated Port of Bizerte was utilized to almost its full extent, thereby contributing greatly to the supply of allied armies for future operations in Sicily and Italy. The extraordinary ability, resourcefulness, courage and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Ankers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Commander Ankers is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)