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 (Corps of Engineers) Bates Cavanaugh Burnell (ASN: 0-27241), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving with Headquarters, 159th Engineer Group, 20th Engineer Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period from July 1968 to February 1969.