The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Chief Gunner Fay M. Lightner, United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as battery control officer and rangekeeper operator aboard the U.S.S. MAYRANT when she was attacked by enemy planes on 26 July 1943. Chief Gunner Lightner obtained a rangekeeper solution within 20 seconds after the sighting of enemy planes and directed the guns under his control in fighting off the attacking aircraft. At the height of the engagement, when the gunnery officer was wounded and unconscious, he assumed control of the main battery and shot down one plane and seriously damaged another.