The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain William W. Drake, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Public Relations Officer on the staff of CincPac from 31 December 1941 to 3 October 1944. Captain Drake facilitated the accurate and expeditious flow of important war news to the American press. He disregarded his personal safety to participate actively in the campaigns against the Marshalls, Gilberts, Marianas and Palaus.