(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain Hamilton Hains, United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Chief of Staff and Operations Officer on the staff of a group commander in the Southwest Pacific area during World War II.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Hamilton Hains, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as staff member with Commander Amphibious Force, South Pacific, from August 1942 to July 1943. Commander Hains participated in the initial occupation of Guadalcanal-Tulagi. He also aided in the occupation of the Russell Islands and that assault on New Georgia, and carried out many extremely difficult and hazardous missions.