The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain [then Commander] Paul Brogden Koonce (NSN: 0-88086), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. MONTPELIER (CL-57), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 30 October to 2 November 1943. Under heavy fire from hostile shore batteries and air raids, Captain Koonce rendered invaluable assistance to his Commanding Officer in the initial bombardment of Buka-Bonis and the first daylight attack on the Shortland Area. In addition to engaging a Japanese Task Force of superior fire power and sinking or damaging eight of the enemy’s warships, Task Force THIRTY-NINE, of which the MONTPELIER was a unit, successfully fought off a deadly attack by sixty-seven hostile bombers, shooting down seventeen and repelling the others. Throughout these actions, Captain Koonce’s accurate evaluation of the tactical situation and his sound judgment under fire contributed to the protection of our beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay and to the successful establishment of our land and air forces on Bougainville Island.