The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) to Seaman First Class John Henry Jones, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States on 10 July 1943. As machine gunner in a boat from a transport, during the assault on Sicily, Seaman First Class Jones persistently stood by his guns when the boat foundered until turbulent seas finally washed him overboard.