The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Burris D. Wood, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as ship salvage officer in the Alaskan-Aleutian area from 1 June to December 1943. Captain Wood supervised the salvaging of numerous small craft and material, returning two large cargo vessels to active service.