The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Bertram Joseph Prueher (NSN: 0-72372), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II. Skillfully leading his pilots in a ruthless and persistent campaign against enemy submarines from April 1942 to August 1943, Lieutenant Commander Prueher developed his squadron into an effective fighting force which established an exceptional record in the destruction of hostile undersea craft.