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 Colonel (Air Corps) James A. McDonnell, United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from February 1942 to July 1946. (This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Ribbon to Colonel McDonnell for meritorious service from 1 March 1942 to 20 January 1944, by letter 24 May 1946 from the Commanding General, Air Materiel Command, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.)