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 (Medical Service Corps) Allen J. Blake, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from October 1950 to January 1963. [This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service from 25 July 1954 to 1 August 1959, as announced in General Orders Number 42, Headquarters, Brooke Army Medical Center, dated 26 July 1959.]