The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Dorothy C. Stratton, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director of the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Captain Stratton was primarily responsible for originating policies for the procurement, training, utilization, and maintenance or morale of members of the SPARs. Through her qualities of leadership, Captain Stratton inspired the finest type of woman to volunteer her services to her country. Through her keen understanding of the abilities of women, her vision of the jobs which they could perform, and her consummate tact in fitting women into a military organization, she was able to direct the efforts of the women of the Reserve into channels of the greatest usefulness to the Coast Guard and to the country. She has thus made substantial contributions to the successful prosecution of the war effort through her competent leadership and direction of the Women’s Reserve of the United States Coast Guard Reserve.