The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) Lewis Hinchman Ham, Jr., United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious service while serving in successive positions of responsibility as a member of the Office, Army Secretary for Joint Actions, and as an action officer in Strategic Mobility Branch, Strategic Studies and Mobility Division, Plans Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Department of the Army, during the period May 1966 to October 1968. While serving in the Office of the Army Secretary for Joint Actions, and as a staff officer in the Strategic Mobility Branch, Plans Directorate Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Colonel Ham, through his exceptional efforts and profound understanding and knowledge of Army Staff structure and joint service procedure, made a substantial contribution to the successful operation of the Army Staff. As Assistant Army Secretary for Joint Actions, Colonel Ham functioned as one of the principal Department of the Army assistants to the Army Operations Deputy. In this position of high responsibility he helped receive, assign, coordinate, and maintain staff supervision over all Joint Chiefs of Staff activities within the Department of the Army through designated Army staff agencies. In this capacity he conceived, organized, and was the principal author of the Army Joint Actions Handbook and later reorganized the Army Joint Document Control Office to provide a system that is more flexible and responsive while at the same time reducing costs and increasing security and control of classified material. During the civil disturbances in April of 1968, Colonel Ham served in an outstanding manner, as a principal briefer on the Army Operations Center and later as the senior operations officer on the Department of Army Troops Control Headquarters for the greater Washington, D.C. area (Task Force Washington). In this capacity he assisted in the organization, operation, and control of Task Force Washington. Colonel Ham made a particularly outstanding contribution to the Department of Defense directed Movement Capabilities Study by redefining the study goals to include an analysis of the Army requirement for the deployment of helicopters. Colonel Ham’s dedication, outstanding performance of duty, and professional competence contributed greatly to the Army Staff during his tour of duty. His exceptional individual contributions reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.