The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Carl Uno Peterson, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.C.G.C. ESCANABA while that vessel was engaged in rescue operations in behalf of an American transport, which was torpedoed and sunk on 3 February 1943. Proceeding through heavy seas in total darkness, Lieutenant Commander Peterson under imminent threat of enemy attack, took immediate action that involved great skill with the result that 133 men were rescued from the sea.