The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Charles Burns, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Aerological Officer on the Staff of the Commander FIFTH Fleet from 15 October 1943 to 4 July 1945. During this period he participated in the operations to capture and occupy positions in the Gilbert, Marshall and Mariana Islands, and at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, and in carrier raids on Truck Palau, Tokyo, and on Kyushu and enemy fleet units in the Inland Sea.