The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain John Boyd Mallard, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as commander of a task group of LSTs during the assaults on Lae and Finschhafen on 4 September 1943 and 22 September 1943. Captain Mallard organized and led succeeding echelons or re-supply to both of these landing points on New Guinea. He was responsible for the prompt execution of assignments by his task force which contributed materially to the success of our operations in this area.