The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Rudolph T. Schlesinger, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving on the U.S.S. NEWELL on 20 April 1944, in the Mediterranean. Subsequent to an enemy air attack on an allied convoy the U.S.S. NEWELL was engaged in picking up one hundred and nineteen survivors of the U.S.S. LANSDALE. During and after this rescue operation, Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Schlesinger and pharmacist’s mates aboard his ship administered all medical treatment without aid of the doctor. Several of the survivors where unconscious and had to be resuscitated while several others had fractured limbs; others were stretcher cases; and all of them had been in oil polluted water for a period of one the four hours. In addition Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Schlesinger organized the wardroom as a dressing station with such thoroughness that it was converted into a virtual hospital with great dispatch. By his able and expeditious treatment of survivors suffering from shock, immersion and minor injuries, his efforts undoubtedly contributed to the saving of many lives.