The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Captain Rae B. Hall, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Captain of the Port of Norfolk, Virginia, from 10 March 1942 to 1 November 1943. Assuming the highly important duty of safeguarding the large and vital port during a particularly dangerous period of the war, Captain Hall worked with untiring zeal and brilliant initiative directing the training and equipping of a port security organization formed to protect all essential waterfront facilities and vessels. His superb leadership contributed in large measure to the successful prosecution of the war by assuring the safe and uninterrupted flow of enormous quantities of materials and manpower to the battlefronts.