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 (Cavalry) Bogardus Snowden Cairns (ASN: 0-18798), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Executive Officer, 13th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, and as Executive Officer, Combat Command “B”, 1st Armored Division, from February 1942 to May 1945. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Cairns exhibited exemplary judgment and foresight in the planning and in the execution of the movement of the regiment to the European Theater of Operations and subsequently to North Africa. Throughout the African Campaign from Merse Bou Zedjar to the capture of Mateur and the advance to the sea he continued his meritorious service, assisting in the successful planning of the movement to Tunisia, and of operations in the Medjez el Bab-Tebourbs area, in the Ousseltie Valley, at Sbeitia, in the recapture of Kasserine Pass, at Maknassey, and at Mateur. His outstanding ability in performing all missions assigned reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.