The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Ranson K. Davis, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Staff to a naval task force commander during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Captain Davis skillfully assisted in the planning and subsequent execution of landings at Terranova, Sardinia, and Brolo, thereby contributing materially to the rapid advance of the 7th Army toward Messina.