The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander George W. Welker, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. Displaying skillful leadership and devotion to duty on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, South Pacific, from October 1942 to July 1943, Commander Welker carried out extremely vital and difficult missions during the occupation of the Russell Islands and the assault on New Georgia.