The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Jack Ellett Hurff, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in July 1943. Commanding a transport during the amphibious assault on Sicily, Captain Hurff completed his mission of landing troops and material on enemy-occupied beaches although he was painfully wounded and subjected to relentless enemy air attacks.