The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit, in the Degree of Chief Commander to General Charles E. de Gaulle, Government of France, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic and Commander-in-Chief of France’s armed forces during World War II.