The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Paul L. Drouin, 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 – 11 November 1942. In charge of a salvage party from a transport, Lieutenant Commander Drouin succeeded in freeing 38 stranded landing boats and returning them to the ships of the force after 35 hours of continuous labor. Later, he pumped out, repaired, and raised a scuttled steamer in 63 hours, during which time Lieutenant Commander Drouin and his men toiled night and day.