The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert E. Esbensen, United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Officer-in-Charge of the LCT 35 during the landings on Anzio-Nettuno beaches in January 1944. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Esbensen carried out his hazardous assignment of landing troops, vehicles and armored equipment with great skill and determination. Throughout the subsequent 25 days he assisted in the unloading of follow-up shipping, the evacuation of casualties and the beach salvage operations while subjected to shellfire and frequent aerial bombing attacks.