The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Charles L. Haslup, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the LST 312 during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Lieutenant Haslup continued to direct the unloading of the craft’s cargo while his beached ship was subjected to repeated dive bombing attacks and heavy artillery fire. He supervised temporary repairs until the vessel could be re-floated, and immediately set out on additional trips between base and landing beaches.