- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Captain
- Awarded on:
- April 1945
"Captain Willard Merrill Downes, United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Staff Officer, Brisbane, Australia, during World War II."
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 337