The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Wilbur Haines Cheney, Jr. (NSN: 0-4168)), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Division Mining Officer and also as Navigator of the U.S.S. PRUITT (DM-22), Flagship of Captain John F. Crowe, Jr., U.S. Navy, Commanding a Task Group of light mine layers engaged in the passages around Adak, Aleutian Islands in October and November 1942. He rendered extremely valuable assistance to the Task Group Commander in the preparation of the mines and in the navigation of the Task Group thereby contributing materially to the planting of highly efficient mine fields. As a result of his expert navigation in narrow, dangerous and poorly charted waters, in the face of extremely stormy weather, the Task Group most expeditiously and most accurately conducted the mine laying operations, resulting in complete blocking of the several bays and passages around Adak, thereby contributing greatly to the security of the U.S. Army forces occupying Adak in close proximity to the Japanese garrison at Kiska. His advice to the Task Group Commander pertaining to the final preparation of the mines and his advice relative to navigational matters in conducting the several approaches to the mining areas showed superb skill and were far beyond that normally to be expected.