The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General George Stafford Eckhardt (ASN: 0-19766), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period from February 1966 to June 1967. [This award supersedes award of the Legion of Merit (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service from February 1966 to May 1967 as announced in General Orders Number 2493, United States Army Vietnam, APO San Francisco 96307 dated 29 May 1967.]