The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander James S. Muzzy, 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 U.S. destroyer escort on 1 April 1944, in the Mediterranean Sea. When a fire broke out in the forward hold of the S.S. JARED INGERSOLD after that ship had apparently been struck by a torpedo, he laid his ship alongside three times to combat the stubborn fire. This action was taken after the INGERSOLL had twice been abandoned by her crew and in spite of the fact that in the compartment adjacent to the fire was a magazine containing ammunition. After bringing the fire under control. Lieutenant Commander Muzzy assisted in towing the ship to Algiers where it was beached and salvaged. By his action, contributed to the saving of many lives and succeeded in salvaging a valuable unit, including cargo and equipment.