The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain (MC) Joel J. White, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of a naval hospital in the New Hebrides Islands with a section assigned to Guadalcanal from August 1942 to January 1943. Captain White made repeated trips into the forward combat areas in order to develop facilities for the efficient treatment of battle casualties. His untiring devotion to duty contributed in large measure to the successful care of many hundreds of patients.