The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Joseph Francis Farley, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as District Coast Guard Officer of the EIGHTH Naval District from June 1942, to December 1943. Assuming the highly important duty of safe guarding the many ports in this district during a particularly dangerous period of the was, Rear Admiral Farley worked with untiring zeal and brilliant initiative to direct the training and equipping of port security organizations for the protection of all essential waterfront facilities and vessel Rear Admiral Farley’s inspiring leadership, outstanding ability and unceasing vigilance contributed immeasurably to the successful prosecution of the war by insuring the safe and uninterrupted flow of vast quantities of oil and thousands of tons of other shipping to the battle fronts of the world.