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 Lieutenant Colonel (Chaplain) John B. Rettagliata, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from October 1955 to June 1961. [This award supersedes the previous award of the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service during the period October 1955 to June 1961 as announced in General Orders Number 64, Headquarters, United States Army Southern European Task Force, dated 17 May 1961.]