The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Harold Melvin Briggs (NSN: 0-61082), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service from October 1958 to June 1961, as Director, Pan American Affairs, Naval Missions, and Advisory Groups Division, of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Displaying a unique diplomatic ability and a capacity for understanding the problems faced by Latin American contemporaries, Rear Admiral Briggs has won their unreserved confidence and their support for a series of inter-service conferences of branch chiefs. Aware of the need for cooperation and standardization of operating procedures, he initiated and promoted the Inter-American Naval Conferences and Operation UNITAS, the annual anti-submarine warfare exercise with South American Navies. Through his genius for leadership, he ensured the success of the 1959 and 1960 naval conferences. In the interest of coordination and cooperation, Rear Admiral Briggs energetically promoted the establishment of a communications network among the Chiefs of the American Navies. He has been the Senior U.S. Navy Delegate to the United States Delegation to the Inter-American Defense Board and Senior U.S. Navy Member of several Joint Boards and Commissions, making a marked contribution toward ensuring the smooth, efficient operation of these groups. His outstanding professional skill, diplomacy, and zealous devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.