The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Frank H. Schwable (MCSN: 0-4429), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of Marine Night Fighter Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE (VMF(N)-531), operating in the Solomon Islands area from 11 September 1943 to 18 February 1944. Colonel Schwable was largely responsible for his squadron destroying seven enemy aircraft and preventing innumerable Japanese planes from reaching bomb release lines. He contributed materially to the establishment of the first Marine night fighter squadron as a major element in the successful prosecution of the war.