The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Allan Withers Ashbrook, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the Naval Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia. During the vitally important period commencing almost a full year before the commencement of American participation in the war, he displayed keen judgment, inspiring leadership, and outstanding initiative in effecting the training of officers and enlisted personnel in the various technical phases of mine warfare, which training has contributed materially to the successful prosecution of the war.