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 (Infantry) Laurence T. Ayres, Jr., United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from November 1962 to April 1964. [This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to Colonel Ayres for meritorious service during the period November 1962 to April 1964 as announced in General Orders Number 23, Headquarters FOURTH United States Army, dated 22 April 1964.]