The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Wallace Benjamin Phillips, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the assault on Sicily in 1943. As Commander of Transports of a naval task force, Commander Phillips organized his command into a strong fighting unit and by cool leadership under fire enabled his troops to land expeditiously on enemy beaches despite severe opposition.