The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Roland B. Vanasse, 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 U.S.S. THURSTON, taking part in the invasion of Southern France, on 15 August 1944. Commander Fly organized and trained his ship and boat groups to load, transport and land the embarked Army assault units on the invasion beaches. By skillful seamanship and aggressive coordination he expeditiously carried out the vital disembarkation and landing of assault elements at the scheduled time.