The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Chester C. Ward, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 3 August 1956 to 1 August 1960. Rear Admiral Ward has been widely acclaimed for his realistically expressed convictions concerning the legal posture of the cold war and the communist conspiracy. Rear Admiral Ward has taken a leading role and performed outstanding services in recent efforts by the United States to preserve the principle of “freedom of the seas” by promoting treaty recognition of the concept of narrow limits of territorial waters. He has successfully established programs in the Navy promoting speed, simplicity and economy in the administration of justice without sacrificing the quality thereof.