The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps) John D. Lawson (ASN: 0-65533), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in duties of great responsibility from June 1949 to July 1963. [This award supersedes awards of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from 23 August 1953 to 1 July 1954, as announced in General Orders Number 524, Headquarters, EIGHTH United States Army, APO 301, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, California, dated 14 August 1954 and the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service from 15 April 1959 to 2 January 1962, as announced in General Orders Number 4, Headquarters, United States Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama, dated 31 January 1962.]