(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain Irvin Junior Stephens, United States Coast Guard, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for heroic achievement of service, not involving aerial flight in connection with operations against an opposing armed force, as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. MERRILL (DE-392), from November 1943 to February 1945. [Captain Stephens is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.]