The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Edward C. Hines, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as an officer attached to the U.S.S. COLE (DD-155) during the assault on Safi, French Morocco, 8 – 11 November 1942. Lieutenant Commander Hines contributed in large measure to the success of the operations as navigator. Employing the limited data available, he laid an accurate course to the Safe breakwater.