THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

                                               WASHINGTON


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

          LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GEORGE DEWEY HOFFMAN
                                     UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

          CITATION:

                   "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the
          performance of outstanding service as Commanding
          Officer of the U.S.S. CORRY during a successful ac-
          tion against an enemy submarine on 17 March 1944.
                    The U.S.S. CORRY was on an antisubmarine
          search when contact was made with the enemy.  Lieu-
          tenant Commander George D. Hoffman immediately de-
          veloped the contact and furnished vital information
          which assisted his more favorably situated compan-
          ion ship in making damaging attacks.  Later, acting
          in conjunction with the other attacking unit, Lieu-
          tenant Commander Hoffman delivered an extremely ef-
          fective depth charge attack which forced the dam-
          aged submarine to surface.  The surfaced submarine
          was then taken under fire by both surface ships
          present, with many hits from the U.S.S. CORRY con-
          tributing to the U-boat's final destruction.
                   "The aggressive and accurate gunfire and depth
          charge attacks delivered by Lieutenant Commander
          Hoffman in close cooperation with similar attacks
          by a companion ship were in keeping with the high-
          est traditions of the United States Naval Service."

                                                                  For the President,



                                                                  Secretary of the Navy.