The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Dale Harris, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Deputy Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe, from July 1957 to May 1959; Commandant, ELEVENTH Naval District from March – July 1960; and as Commander of several major naval activities in the San Diego, California, area, from July 1959 to August 1960. Through his efforts in the Southern European area, he created a better allied understanding of United States seapower on the southern flank of Europe. As Commander, U.S. Naval Air Bases, in the ELEVENTH and TWELFTH Naval Districts, he was instrumental in planning for important naval organizational changes.