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) Blackburn Stephens, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from December 1961 to August 1964. [This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to Colonel Stephens for meritorious service during the period 1 December 1961 to 31 August 1964 as announced in General Orders Number 126, Headquarters, FIFTH United States Army, dated 2 September 1964.]