Download Defense Meritorious Service citation awarded to Jerome Couch

,
',-­
)­
.<----_..-..
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.