The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Laurence Wild, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Governor of American Samoa and Commandant of the Naval Station, Tutila, Samoa, from August 1940 to May 1942. Captain Wild achieved distinctive success in preparing the islands for use as a base for land, sea and air units of the fleet. His untiring efforts, far-sightedness and sound judgment in this assignment contributed materially in the prosecution of the war.