The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Edwin Harvey Headland (NSN: 0-75074), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. POPE (DE-134), while conducting offensive action against an enemy submarine on 9 April 1944. The U.S.S. POPE, screening an aircraft carrier of an Atlantic Fleet anti-submarine task group, made underwater sound contact on an enemy submarine which was in a favorable position to attack the carrier. Taking prompt offensive action, Lieutenant Commander Headland immediately attacked and forced the enemy to break off his projected attack and to attempt escape. Despite the evasive maneuvers of the U-Boat and the difficulties of maintaining contact through the attacking ship’s wake and depth charge explosions, the POPE held continuous contact for three and one half hours and delivered a total of eight additional depth charge attacks. As a result of the skill and persistence of the entire anti-submarine organization of the POPE the enemy was badly damaged and forced to surface where it was destroyed by the combined gunfire of the assembled surface ships and aircraft. Lieutenant Commander Headland’s aggressiveness and determination throughout the prolonged action against the enemy submarine reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Commander Headland is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)