The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Arthur J. Tuggle, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Electrical Officer of the U.S.S. SAVANNAH (CL-42) during the invasion of Italy on 11 September 1944. When an aerial bomb pierced a turret, he led a damage control party through total darkness and intense heat. Despite the danger of magazine explosions he supervised repairs in compartments filled with smoke and toxic gases.