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, ',- ) .<----_..-.. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING: THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS AUTHORIZED THE AWARD OF THE DEFENSE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL VERNON S. COUCH, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE COMMAND OR OFFICE DO FORM 241 2. MAY 1999 13TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2006 Qtitatinn TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE iltftust .tritorious ~trui(t .tbal TO VERNON S. COUCH Lieutenant Colonel Vernon S. Couch, United States Marine Corps, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service as Senior Prosecutor, Office of Military Commissions, Office of the Chief Prosecutor, Defense Legal Services Agency, from August 2003 to August 2006. During this period , Colonel Couch's outstanding professional skill and ceaseless efforts resulted in major contributions to the development of cases against al Qaida members detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and furthered the United States' objectives in the Global War on Terrorism. Colonel Couch served as lead military commission prosecutor in United States v. Hamdan and was the primary liaison with the Solicitor General and Department of Justice attorneys involved in the historic Hamdan v. Rumsfeld United States Supreme Court decision. His judgment, organizational ability, and moral clarity resulted in major contributions to the national security of the United States. Handpicked to serve on a team of senior litigators from the Departments of Defense and Justice , Colonel Couch led by example often performing the duties normally assigned to several attorneys. His work ethic exemplified the Marine Corps core values of "Honor, Courage, and Commitment." Steady in faith, possessed by moral courage , and relentless in the pursuit of excellence. The Distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Couch reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.