The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant (MC) Edwin Corlett Bebb (NSN: 0-122217), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States aboard the U.S.S. HEERMANN (DD-532) during and following her daylight surface action against a major enemy task force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, occurring off Samar Island, Central Philippines, on 25 October 1944. For a period of two and one half days, commencing in the middle of the engagement, Lieutenant Bebb worked tirelessly and continuously under adverse circumstances to save the lives of many men who otherwise would have been lost. His devotion to duty, high professional standard, and apparently inexhaustible store of energy, was most laudable. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Bebb is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)