The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit, in the Degree of Legionnaire (Navy Award) to Lieutenant Commander Francis D. Russell-Roberts, Royal Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the invasion of Normandy, France. As commanding officer of a vessel operating in the advance patrol group of the western Naval Task Force Area screen in the Bay of Seine from 6 June to 14 July 1944, with forceful and unwavering determination he pressed home numerous effective strikes against German E-boats.