The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit, in the Degree of Commander (Navy Award) to Lieutenant Commander A. F. Collett, Royal Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II, as Commanding Officer of a British submarine during a joint United States and British attack against a Japanese-held island in the southwest Pacific. At the risk of losing his submarine he cruised 15 miles on the surface, braving repeated and accurate fire from large coastal defense guns, to rescue an Army pilot who had parachuted into the water.