The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] John L. Collis, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II. Undeterred by the knowledge that a large Japanese naval force was approaching the exact position for his mine-laying operation, Commander Collis, as Commander of a mine division, proceeded to his destination ahead of the enemy. Throughout a tense period in which the hostile units closed rapidly, he accomplished his mission.