The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Carpenter’s Mate First Class Kenneth O. Holmes, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco, 8 – 11 November 1942. When his ship was struck by an enemy shell during the assault on French Morocco, Carpenter’s Mate First Class Holmes immediately entered compartments adjacent to hose damaged and endeavored to restore watertight integrity and to institute flooding of powder magazines as necessary, even though power cases were cut and the powder exposed to fire.