The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel (Transportation Corps), [then Lieutenant Colonel] Merle R. Dawson, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from April 1960 to July 1964.