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 Colonel (Chaplain) Edwin L. Kirtley, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from May 1961 to October 1964. [This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster), as announced in General Orders Number 58, Headquarters FOURTH United States Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, dated 3 June 1963 and the Army Commendation Medal (Third Oak Leaf Cluster), as announced in General Orders Number 126, Headquarters, United States Army, Southern European Task Force, APO 168, dated 9 October 1964, awarded to Chaplain Kirtley for meritorious service during this same period of service.]