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 (Medical Corps) Elmer A. Lodmell, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1 November 1948 to 30 September 1957. (This award supersedes so much of General Orders No. 42, Headquarters Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., dated 18 September 1957, as pertains to the previous award of the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant to Colonel Lodmell for meritorious services during the period 3 August 1953 to 30 September 1957.)