The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Seaman First Class James D. Collins (NSN: 6441467), United States Naval Reserve, 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 members of his support boat, landing northeast of Fedala, French Morocco, were attacked by hostile planes and ground forces and cut off from the other landing groups, Seaman First Class Collins volunteered to man a rubber boat and with the aid of a shipmate, effected a daring escape. Under heavy hostile fire, he reached his objective the same evening to furnish the attack force commander with the first information regarding the beleaguered group.