The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain (Infantry) Edward L. Nicely, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Intelligence Officer of the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in the Solomon Islands. Although wounded seriously enough to justify his evacuation early in the New Georgia campaign, Captain Nicely insisted on remaining with his organization and from 18 July to 5 August 1944, performed his duties in a consistently superior manner. From 8 November 1943 to 9 April 1944 at Bougainville, where he accompanied troops on hazardous long range patrols, he again distinguished himself by his alertness to the responsibility of obtaining information concerning the enemy. On one occasion his skillful interrogation of a prisoner of war elicited valuable information relative to the location of a concentration of enemy troops. On the basis of his report, the area was heavily shelled by artillery and when the bivouac was entered two days later more than 300 Japanese dead were found. In many instances Captain Nicely operated well forward of the main line of resistance, shrewdly obtaining evidence of enemy actions or intentions which contributed materially to the successful operations of his regiment. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Captain Nicely and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.