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 Commander John Driscoll Burns (NSN: 0-66055), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Officer-in-Charge of fire fighting during the amphibious assault on the Island of Sicily, July 1943, and during the invasion of Italy, September 1943. At Gela, when the U.S.S. BARNETT was hit by an enemy bomb causing severe fires on board, Lieutenant Commander Burns with great skill and courage boarded the ship and directed the fire fighting activities which resulted in extinguishing the fires in a minimum time, thereby saving a valuable ship for future service. During the invasion of Italy when the S.S. JAMES IREDELL and later the S.S. JAMES W. MARSHALL were hit by enemy bombs which caused numerous fires, he again courageously led the fire fighting parties and extinguished fires, saving these ships from total destruction and permitting them to be returned to useful service. The able leadership, prompt and decisive action and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Burns reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander John Driscoll Burns (NSN: 0-66055), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the removal of a burning ship from a congested harbor area. During a raid by enemy bombing planes on the harbor of Oran, Algeria, on the night of 19 May 1943, the S.S. SAMUEL GRIFFIN, loaded with a cargo of gasoline, was on fire from a bomb hit and in danger of exploding and thereby doing enormous damage to the shipping and harbor facilities. Lieutenant Burns courageously and with outstanding efficiency directed the fire fighting unit and eventually brought the fire under control, thus saving the ship and averting what might have been a major catastrophe. The outstanding leadership, initiative and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Burns were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.