The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander John A. Moreno, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as leader of a patrol squadron during the occupation of the airport at Port Lyautey, French Morocco, 8 – 11 November 1942. Commander Moreno organized and established a base for anti-submarine patrols, provided for the billeting and subsistence of personnel and the operation and protection of the airfield there. He maintained such effective vigilance over the enemy-infested waters that our forces escaped without damage throughout the entire period.