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 Captain Roger Clarence Heimer, 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.S. SAMUEL B. CHASE during the amphibious assault on Italy in 1943. Under Captain Heimer’s skillful and judicious direction in the thorough training and planning for the combat performance of the SAMUEL CHASE, the operation was conducted expeditiously and with timely effectiveness which enabled the embarked troops and equipment to be landed promptly on the heavily defended beaches. He fought his ship gallantly during repeated enemy bombing attacks and after successfully completing his mission retired from the combat area without serious casualty to his command.