Legion of Merit
Awarded by United States Department of Defense
Type	Medal
Awarded for	exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
First awarded	1942
Precedence
Next (higher)	Defense Superior Service Medal
Next (lower)	Distinguished Flying Cross

The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Defense Superior Service Medal of the United States is a senior decoration of the Department of Defense. The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in Awards and decorations of the United States military are Military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States The decoration is issued both to United States military personnel and to military and political figures of foreign governments. The Legion of Merit is one of only two United States decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor), and the only United States decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an Order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit). A neck order is a type of Decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's Neck, rather than hung from the Chest as is the standard The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. Chivalric orders are orders of Knights that were created by European monarchs in imitation of the Military orders of the Crusades. ^[1][2]

The Legion of Merit is sixth in the order of precedence of U. S. military decorations, and is worn after the Defense Superior Service Medal and before the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Defense Superior Service Medal of the United States is a senior decoration of the Department of Defense. The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in

Contents 1 Criteria 2 History 3 Notable recipients 4 Appearance 5 Legal 6 References 7 External links

Criteria

• The degrees of Chief Commander, Commander, Officer, and Legionnaire are awarded only to members of armed forces of foreign nations under the criteria outlined in US Army Regulation 672-7 and is based on the relative rank or position of the recipient as follows:

1. Chief Commander - Chief of State or Head of Government.
2. Commander - Equivalent of an U. S. military Chief of Staff or higher position but not to Chief of State.
3. Officer - General or Flag Officer below the equivalent of a U. S. military Chief of Staff; Colonel or equivalent rank for service in assignments equivalent to those normally held by a General or Flag Officer in U. S. military service; or Military Attaches.
4. Legionnaire - All recipients not included above.
5. The Legion of Merit is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States without reference to degree for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

• The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner.
• Performance of duties normal to the grade, branch, specialty or assignment, and experience of an individual is not an adequate basis for this award.
• For service not related to actual war the term “key individual” applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement.
• In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner.
• However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of important positions.

• The degrees and the design of the decoration were clearly influenced by the French Légion d'honneur.

History

Although recommendations for creation of a Meritorious Service Medal were initiated as early as September 1937, no formal action was taken toward approval. The Meritorious Service Medal is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In a letter to the Quartermaster General (QMG) dated 1941-12-24, the Adjutant General formally requested action be initiated to create a Meritorious Service Medal and provide designs in the event the decoration was established. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Proposed designs prepared by Bailey, Banks, and Biddle and the Office of the Quartermaster General were provided to Assistant Chief of Staff (G1) (Colonel Heard) by the QMG on 1942-01-05. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.

The Assistant Chief of Staff (G1) (BG Hilldring), in a response to the QMG on 1942-04-03, indicated the Secretary of War approved the design recommended by the QMG. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. The design of the Legion of Merit (change of name) would be ready for issue immediately after legislation authorizing it was enacted into law.

An Act of Congress (Public Law 671 - 77th Congress, Chapter 508, 2d Session) on 1942-07-20, established the Legion of Merit and provided that the medal "shall have suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees, and which the President, under such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe, may award to

(a) personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States and of the Government of the Commonwealth Philippines and

(b) personnel of the armed forces of friendly foreign nations who, since the proclamation of an emergency by the President on 1939-09-08, shall have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz "

The medal was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 40, dated 1942-08-05. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Executive Order 9260, dated 1942-10-29, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, established the rules for the Legion of Merit and required the President's approval for the award. executive order in the United States is a Directive issued by the President, the head of the executive branch of the federal government Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II However, in 1943, at the request of General George C. Marshall, approval authority for U. George Catlett Marshall Jr (December 31 1880 &ndash October 16 1959 was an American military leader Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of S. personnel was delegated to the War Department.

Executive Order 10600, dated 1955-03-15, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, revised approval authority. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general Current provisions are contained in Title 10, United States Code 1121. The United States Code ( USC) is a compilation and Codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States.

The reverse of the medal has the motto taken from the Great Seal of the United States "ANNUIT COEPTIS" (He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings) and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782) which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart. The ribbon design also follows the pattern of the Purple Heart ribbon.

Notable recipients

Awardees included:

• Chief Commander:
  • Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (First Recipient)
  • British General Sir Kenneth A.N. Anderson, KCB, MC
  • Turkish ex-Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Hilmi Özkök
  • Turkish Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt
  • Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov
  • King Michael I of Romania
  • Indian Army Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
  • Yugoslav Royal Army General Dragoljub Mihailovich
  • Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley VC, commander of Royal Australian Navy in WW II
  • British Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB KBE MVO Royal Navy (For gallant and distinguished service whilst in command of the invasion operations on Normandy)
  • British Admiral Sir John Henry Dacres Cunningham KCB MVO Royal Navy (For gallant and distinguished service during the invasion operations in Northern Italy and the South of France)
  • British Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham GCB DSO Royal Navy
  • British Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder GCB Royal Air Force
  • British Acting Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham KCB DSO MC DFC AFC Royal Air Force
  • British Field Marshal William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC
  • Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia

• Commander:
  • Brazil's Brigadier General Amaro Soares Bittencourt was the first to receive the medal in a degree. Chiang Kai-shek ( POJ: Chiúⁿ Kài-se̍k Jyutping: zoeng2gaai3sek6 GCB ( October 31, 1887 &ndash General Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson, KCB, MC, ( December 25, 1891 - April 29, 1959) was a British Army General Hilmi Özkök (born 1940 in Turgutlu, Manisa Province) was the 24th Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces. General Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt (b September 1, 1940) was the 25th Chief of the Turkish General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Field Marshal Kodandera "Kipper" Madappa Cariappa ( Kodava Kannada: ಕೊದಂಡೇರ ಮಾದಪ್ಪ ಕರಿಯಪ್ಪ) Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović ( Cyrillic script: Драгољуб "Дража" Михаиловић also known as "Чича Дража" or " Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley VC, KCB, DSC, DL, RN ( November 2, 1893 &ndash Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB, KBE, MVO ( January 20, 1883 - January 2, 1945) was a British Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Bt, KT, GCB, OM, DSO (7 January Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder 1st Baron Tedder of Glenguin, GCB (11 July 1890–3 June 1967 was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force Air Marshal Sir Arthur "Mary" Coningham KCB KBE DSO MC DFC AFC RAF (19 January 1895 Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill" Slim 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, KStJ Haile Selassie I ( Ge'ez: am ኃይለ፡ ሥላሴ "Power of the Trinity " 23 July 1892 &ndash 27 August 1975 born Tafari Makonnen, was NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page
  • Ecuador's General de Ejercito (General of the Army) Paco Moncayo, because of his exceptionally superior performance as Chief of the Armed Forces Joint Command and his contribution to Ecuadorian history, politics and democracy
  • The Philippine's General Fidel Valdez Ramos, former President of the Philippines and a 1950 West Point United States Military Academy graduate
  • The Philippine's General Alfredo M. Santos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 1962 - 1965
  • Australia's General Peter Cosgrove and General Sir Phillip Bennett
  • General Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, OC, CMM, CH, CD was appointed Commander of the Legion of Merit in 1995, and in 1999, he was made a Companion of Honour by HM The Queen. Paco Moncayo Gallegos (born October 8, 1940 in Quito) is the current Mayor of Quito, Ecuador and a retired General Fidel Valdez Ramos (born March 18, 1928) was the 12th President of the Philippines. General Alfredo M Santos was born on July 13 1905 and was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1962 to 1965 making him the first four-star general General Peter John Cosgrove AC, MC (born 28 July 1947 is an Australian general General Sir Phillip Harvey Bennett AC, KBE, DSO, KStJ (born 27 December 1928) was the Governor Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain OC CH CMM CD (born July 30, 1937) is a retired Canadian The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II He is the former Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada) for the Canadian Forces and he is the Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning since November 1995 for the Northern Ireland peace process. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS ( French: le Chef d'état-major de la défense) is the senior member of the The Canadian Forces (CF ( French: Forces canadiennes) are the unified Armed forces of Canada, governed by the National Defence The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD was established to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons in Ireland, as part of the peace When discussing the History of Northern Ireland, the " peace process " is generally considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican
  • Stefan Rowecki "Grot," Polish General and the Commander of the Home Army. Stefan Paweł Rowecki (pseudonym "Grot" hence the alternate name Stefan Grot-Rowecki, December 25 1895 - August 2 1944 was a Polish general journalist He was decorated posthumously on August 9, 1984 by Ronald Reagan. A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died usually in honor of an action associated with their death Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar)
  • Lt. Gen. Władysław Anders, Polish General and the Commander of the 2nd Polish Corps. Lieutenant-General Władysław Anders (August 11 1892 &ndashMay 12 1970 was a General in the Polish Polish II Corps (Drugi Korpus Wojska Polskiego 1943&ndash1947 was a major tactical and operational unit of the Polish Armed Forces in the West
  • German Generals Hans-Otto Budde, Adolf Heusinger, Klaus Naumann and Wolfgang Schneiderhan
  • French Generals Edgard de Larminat and Alain de Boissieu
  • Bangladesh Army's Brigadier General Sharif Uddin Ahmed was the first Bangladeshi General to receive this award for his outstanding service as the Defence Attache from 1985 to 1989 in Bangladesh Embassy, United States. Adolf Heusinger ( August 4, 1897 &ndash November 30, 1982) was a German General during World War II and served Klaus Naumann, KBE (born May 25 1939 in Munich) is a retired German General, who was Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Edgard de Larminat ( November 29, 1895, Alès; July 1, 1962, Paris) was a French general who fought in Alain de Boissieu ( 5 July 1914 - 5 April 2006) was a French general Free French, Compagnon de la Libération, Army chief ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially
  • General Sir Peter de la Billière KCB, KBE, DSO, MC & bar, commander of the British forces during Gulf War I
• Officer:
  • First recipients were Colonel Johanes K. General Sir Peter Edgar de la Couer de la Billière KCB, KBE, DSO, MC & Bar (b Meijer of the Royal Netherlands Army, Major Herbert J. The Royal Netherlands Army ( Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the Military of the Netherlands. Thompson of the British Army, and Major Stephan M. Dobrowalski of the Polish Army. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland
  • In 1945 two members of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force were honored for valor, determination and sacrifice lending air support to American soldiers on the ground saving countless American lives in the Pacific theater of operations. These two outstanding soldiers were Colonel Antonio Cardenas Rodriguez and Captain Radames Gaxiola Andrade.
  • In 1996 LGen Roméo Dallaire of the Canadian Army was made an Officer of the Legion for his role as Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Rwanda during the civil war and subsequent genocide. Lieutenant-General Roméo Antonius Dallaire, OC, CMM, GOQ, MSC, CD (born June 25, 1946 in Land Force Command ( LFC) is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace The Republic of Rwanda (ruːˈændə or /rəˈwɑːndə/ in English ɾwanda or in Kinyarwanda is a small Landlocked country in the
  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy Head of the Royal Air Force, for his part in operation Telic/ Operation Iraqi Freedom. Air Chief Marshal ( Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a senior Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Lester Torpy GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC, RAF (born 1953 is the current Chief of the Air
  • Brigadier General Tariq Khan became the first Pakistani Officer to receive the award for meritorious services as a liaison officer during Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and He received the award on 9 December 2007.

• Legionnaire:
  • First award to Lieutenant Ann A. Bernatitus, heroic Navy Nurse who served at Bataan and Corregidor. Ann Agnes Bernatitus ( January 21, 1912 &ndash March 3, 2003) was a United States Navy Nurse who served during World The United States Navy Nurse Corps was formally established by the Congress in 1908 Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. For the Spanish historical administrative position see Corregidor (position Corregidor is an island in the entrance of the Philippines ^[3]\

• Basic medal:
  • At the beginning of the North African campaign, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer accompanied General Mark Wayne Clark by submarine to North Africa. Lyman Louis Lemnitzer ( August 29, 1899 &ndash November 12, 1988) was an American Army General, who served as Mark Wayne Clark ( May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War Upon arrival, about 60 officers were awarded the Legion of Merit and were among the first awarded the medal. By some misunderstanding as to the rules governing the awards, these 60 American officers were awarded the degree of Officer. According to Lemnitzer, President Roosevelt was quite annoyed but did not rescind the awards. These were the only U. S. officers awarded the Legion of Merit with a degree.
  • David H. Hackworth - Highly decorated Vietnam veteran who was awarded several Silver Stars and two Distinguished Service Crosses
  • Hyman G. Rickover, the "Father of the Nuclear Navy"
  • Michael Mullen, six awards, Chief of Naval Operations
  • John P. Abizaid, six awards, former commander of U.S. Central Command
  • Edward L. Beach, Jr., commanding officer of USS Triton (SSRN-586) for the first submerged circumnavigation of the world. David Haskell Hackworth ( November 11, 1930 &ndash May 4, 2005) known affectionately as " Hack " was a retired United The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, awarded for extreme Admiral Hyman George Rickover, United States Navy, ( January 27, 1900 – July 8, 1986) was known as the "Father of Admiral Michael Glenn "Mike" Mullen, USN (born October 4 1946) is the 17th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs John Philip Abizaid (born 1 April 1951 جون أبي زيد is a retired General in the United States Army and former Commander of the United States Central The United States Central Command ( USCENTCOM) is a theater -level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U Edward Latimer Beach Jr ( April 20, 1918 – December 1, 2002) was a highly-decorated United States Navy Submarine Design history Background The USS Triton (SSRN-586 is considered part of the first generation of Nuclear-powered submarines to be commissioned
  • Edwin Hubble, American astronomer, for his WWII work at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Edwin Powell Hubble ( November 20, 1889 – September 28, 1953) was an American astronomer. Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen Maryland (in Harford County)
  • Paul X. Rinn, commanding officer of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58), who led his crew to save their mine-damaged warship in the Persian Gulf in 1988. Captain Paul X Rinn, USN (Ret was the first Commanding officer of the and was in command when the ship struck a mine in the Persian Gulf on April Commissioning and namesake The frigate was named for Samuel B A naval mine is a self-contained Explosive device placed in water to destroy Ships or Submarines Unlike Depth charges mines are deposited The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the
  • William C. Rogers III, former commanding officer of the USS Vincennes (CG-49), which shot down an Iranian jetliner in 1988. This page relates to the naval officer For other men named William Rogers see William Rogers (disambiguation. History 1980s The Vincennes was the first of the Ticonderoga -class cruisers to enter the Pacific Fleet. Iran Air Flight 655, also known as IR655, was a civilian Airliner shot down by US missiles on Sunday July 3, 1988, over
  • David Niven, Lt-Col, British Commando in WWII. James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983 was an English Academy Award -winning Actor probably best known for his role as the punctuality-obsessed
  • Audie Murphy, most highly decorated US soldier of WWII. Also see Audie Murphy legacy. Audie Leon Murphy (June 20 1926 – May 28
  • George Stevens, Lieutenant Colonel, U. George Stevens ( December 18, 1904 - March 8, 1975) was an Academy Award -winning American motion picture S. Army; the two-time Oscar-winning film director headed the U. S. Army Signal Corps unit that filmed the Normandy landings and the liberation of the Dachau death camp.
  • Kirk Lippold, CDR, Commanding officer of the USS Cole (DDG-67) which was attacked by suicide bombers in the port of Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000. Commander Kirk S Lippold, USN (Ret was the Commanding officer of the USS ''Cole'' on October 12, 2000 when the ship was attacked History See also USS Cole bombing On 12 October 2000 while at anchor in Aden the Cole was attacked by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers who sailed Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 2 awards (2nd while aboard USS Cole).
  • James G. Stavridis, U. Admiral James G Stavridis, USN is the current Commander United States Southern Command. S. Admiral, Southern Command, 5 awards.
  • John Kline, United States Congressman (2003-present), 4 awards. John Paul Kline (born September 6, 1947 in Allentown Pennsylvania) is an American Politician.
  • Senator John McCain, Naval aviator and Vietnam Prisoner of War
  • William "Billy" Waugh, for Special Forces service during the Vietnam conflict. SGM William "Billy" Waugh (US Army-Ret (born December 1929 is a highly decorated American Special Forces soldier and Central Intelligence Agency
  • Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Tuskegee Airman of 99th Squadron was awarded in 1944
  • Colonel Todd David Hess, First AF member to receive Army Legion of Medical Merit; DCCS LRMC, 435th Medical Squadron, Germany. General Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr ( December 18, 1912 &ndash July 4, 2002) was an United States Air Force general and commander of WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Col (Dr Todd David Hess, Commander, United States Air Force (Ret First physician to ever perform a cataract extraction via phacoemulsification in the history of the RAF Lakenheath hospital. Phacoemulsification refers to modern Cataract surgery in which the Eye 's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated
  • Lt. Cmdr. Henry Plage, Captain of the USS Tabberer, the ship that rescued 55 U. World War II Pacific Theatre operations On 27 June Tabberer headed toward Bermuda for shakedown training S. Naval personnel during and after the cyclone of December 1944, despite dangerous seas and damage the Tabberer.
  • Colonel Will H. Horn, 4 awards, for support of the Cambodian government in 1970 and other exceptional service.

Appearance

Chief Commander	Commander	Officer	Legionnaire
Ribbon

• The Chief Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is, on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a domed five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the United States Coat of Arms. Between each point, within the wreath are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The overall width is 2 15/16 inches (75 mm). The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" are engraved in the center of the reverse. A miniature of the decoration in gold on a horizontal gold bar is worn on the service ribbon.

• The Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is, on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the United States Coat of Arms. Between each star point, within the wreath, are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The overall width is 2¼ inches (57 mm). A gold laurel wreath in the v-shaped angle at the top connects an oval suspension ring to the neck ribbon that is 1 15/16 inches (49 mm) in width. The reverse of the five-pointed star is enameled in white, and the border is crimson. In the center, a disk for engraving the name of the recipient surrounded by the words "ANNUIT COEPTIS MDCCLXXXII. " An outer scroll contains the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. " The service ribbon is the same as the ribbon for the degree of Commander, except the ribbon attachment is Silver.

The neck ribbon for the degree of Commander is 1 15/16 inches (49 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch (2 mm) white 67101; center 1 13/16 inches (46 mm) crimson and 1/16 inch (2 mm) white.

• The Officer Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is similar to the degree of Commander except the overall width is 1 7/80 miles (48 mm) and the pendant has a suspension ring instead of the wreath for attaching the ribbon. A gold replica of the medal, ¾ inch (19 mm) wide, is centered on the suspension ribbon.

• The Legionnaire Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal and the Legion of Merit Medal issued to U. S. personnel is the same as the degree of Officer, except the suspension ribbon does not have the medal replica.

The ribbon for all of the decorations is 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch (2 mm) white; center 1¼ inches (32 mm) crimson; and 1/16 inch (2 mm) white. The reverse of all of the medals has the motto taken from the Great Seal of the United States "ANNUIT COEPTIS" (He (God) Has Favored Our Undertakings) and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782), which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. The Badge of Military Merit is considered to be the first official military combat badge of the United States Armed Forces. The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving The ribbon design also follows the pattern of the Purple Heart ribbon.

Legal

Any false verbal, written or physical claim to the Legion of Merit Medal, by an individual to whom it has not been awarded, is a federal felony offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $5000 fine.

References

External links

• Legion of Merit - Criteria, Background, and Images
• Order of precedence, United States Navy

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