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 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON D. C. 20350

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the LEGION OF MERIT to

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GEORGE T. COKER

UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following


 * CITATION:


 * For exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from August 1966 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion, he served as Chaplain wherein he provided spiritual guidance, instilled constructive rehabilitative thinking and conducted religious services for the benefit of the other prisoners during their long internment. Despite the lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout this lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.