The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Rear Admiral Robert Melville Griffin (NSN: 0-7606), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander of a Fire Support Task Unit engaged in operations for the capture of the southern half of Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands during the period from 6 January 1944 to 15 February 1944. Rear Admiral Griffin caused his ships to deliver a withering fire, at close range, on enemy shore installations under hazardous navigational conditions day and night and wiped out enemy installations that would otherwise have hindered the success of the operation as a whole. His outstanding service and conduct throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Rear Admiral Griffin is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)