The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Commander John Walfrid Ryssy, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States and for outstanding leadership and exemplary conduct under repeated air attacks and exceptionally meritorious service as Escort Division Commander of numerous convoys in the combat area and during operations against enemy held islands in the Southwest Pacific area from 1 December 1944 to 8 March 1945.