The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Lewis C. Houston, 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 a Coast Guard Cutter during action against an enemy submarine off Cape Antonio, Cuba in 1942. Attacking with depth charges on the first run he repeated his aggressive tactics throughout the day until a continuing oil slick gave evidence of the probable destruction of the enemy vessel.