The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Seaman Second Class Jimmie W. Blacketer, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the occupation of French Morocco, 8 to 11 November 1942. Despite extremely high surf and with only one engine, Seaman Second Class Blacketer and his shipmates voluntarily and without relief operated their boat during the assault, making 51 trips until all unloading operations were completed.