The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Richard Brittain Tuggle, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while assuming the duties of Chief of Staff to a naval task force commander during the invasion of Italy in 1944, when his predecessor was wounded. Captain Tuggle directed the clearing of assault beaches, accelerated unloading operation and afforded our attacking troops all possible support. He expertly supervised the complex activities of movement of landing craft to other theaters of war.