Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain (MC)

    Action Date:

    January 3, 1942 – March 23, 1945

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain (MC) Francis James Braceland (NSN: 0-72607), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as a Medical Officer of the Naval Reserve as Special Assistant in Psychiatry to the Surgeon General of the Navy from 3 January 1942 until 23 March 1945, when he became Chief of the Division of Neuro-Psychiatry in that Bureau. He resigned his position in civil life as Dean of the Medical School of Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, when war was declared and offered his services to the Navy. As one of the most outstanding psychiatrists in this country and with an international reputation in his specialty, he personally was, in a large part, responsible for the procurement of many prominent psychiatrists for the Medical Corps of the Naval Reserve and the procurement and training of medical officers and enlisted personnel to adequately establish this specialty in all Naval hospitals in the Continental United States and at Advanced Bases. His loyalty, devotion to duty, and ability were distinct assets to the medical profession and to the Navy. His services have been in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service and he has contributed largely to the high morale of the Reserve Medical Officers.