Legion of Merit

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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

ribbon

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 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 six United States decorations to be issued as a neck order (the others being the Medal of Honor, Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor, Chaplain's Medal for Heroism and Presidential Medal of Freedom) and the only United States decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an Order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit).[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.

Contents

[edit] 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. However this degree has been awarded by President Roosevelt to some Allied World War II theatre commanders usually of joint amphibious landings or invasions. The President appeared to have this power under Executive Order 9260 of 29 October 1942 paragraph 3b[3].
  2. Commander - Equivalent of a 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.
  • When the Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States it is awarded without reference to degree. The criteria are "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements". Additional awards of the Legion of Merit are denoted by oak leaf clusters, in the Army and Air Force, and by award stars in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The sea services also permit the wearing of the Valor device on the Legion of Merit, while the Army and Air Force do not.
  • 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.

[edit] History

Although recommendations for creation of a Meritorious Service Medal were initiated as early as September 1937, no formal action was taken toward approval.

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. 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.

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. 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."

The medal was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 40, dated 1942-08-05. 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. However, in 1943, at the request of General George C. Marshall, approval authority for U.S. personnel was delegated to the War Department.

Executive Order 10600, dated 1955-03-15, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, revised approval authority. Current provisions are contained in Title 10, United States Code 1121.

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.

[edit] Notable recipients

Awardees included:

  • Chief Commander:

Nationality

Rank

Name

Force

Date

Comments
Flag of the United Kingdom Lieutenant-General Kenneth A.N. Anderson, CB, MC British Army 18 June 1943
Flag of the Republic of China Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek Chinese Armed Forces July 1943
Flag of the United Kingdom General Bernard Law Montgomery, KCB, DSO British Army 6 August 1943
Flag of the United Kingdom Temporary Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder, GCB Royal Air Force 27 August 1943
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Mikhajlovich Vasilevskij Red Army 22 June 1944
Flag of the Soviet Union Chief Marshal Of Aviation Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Novikov Military Air Forces 22 June 1944
Flag of the United Kingdom Rear-Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley VC, KCB, DSC Royal Navy September 1944
Flag of the United Kingdom Air Marshal Arthur Travers Harris, OBE, AFC Royal Air Force 17 October 1944
Flag of the United Kingdom King George VI of the United Kingdom British Armed Forces 1945
Flag of the United Kingdom Air Chief Marshal William Sholto Douglas, GCB, MC, DFC Royal Air Force
Flag of the United Kingdom First Sea Lord Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham GCB, DSO Royal Navy
Flag of the United Kingdom Admiral Sir John Henry Dacres Cunningham KCB Royal Navy For gallant and distinguished service during the invasion operations in Northern Italy and the South of France.
Flag of the United Kingdom Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB, KBE, MVO Royal Navy For gallant and distinguished service whilst in command of the invasion operations on Normandy.
Flag of the United Kingdom Acting Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham KCB, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC Royal Air Force
Commander-In-Chief Crown Prince Abd al-Ilāh Iraqi Armed Forces 1 June 1945
Flag of the United Kingdom Vice Admiral Sir Philip Vian KBE, CMG Royal Navy 17 July 1945
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgij Zhukov Red Army 1945
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Stepanovich Konev Red Army 1945
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov Red Army
Flag of the Soviet Union Army General Stanislav Giljarovich Poplavskij Red Army
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Kirill Afanasievich Meretskov Red Army
Flag of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovskij Red Army
Flag of the Soviet Union General Andrej Ivanovich Yeryomenko Red Army
Flag of Romania King Michael I of Romania Romanian Armed Forces 1945
Flag of France General Charles De Gaulle French Armed Forces 24 August 1945
Flag of Ethiopia Emperor Haile Selassie Ethiopian Armed Forces 1945
Flag of Norway Chief of Defence of Norway Crown Prince Olav Norwegian Armed Forces 23 November 1945 "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from August 1944 to July 1945"
King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdur Rahman al Faisal Al Saud Saudi Arabian Armed Forces 18 February 1947
Flag of Mexico President Miguel Aleman Mexican Armed Forces 1 May 1947
Shah Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Iranian Armed Forces 7 October 1947
General Dragoljub Mihailović Yugoslav Royal Army 29 March 1948
Flag of the United Kingdom General Sir William Slim, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC, ADC British Army 1948
Flag of Australia Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Robert Menzies, KC, MP Australian Armed Forces 1950
King Paul I Greek Armed Forces 28 October 1953
Flag of Turkey President Celal Bayar Turkish Armed Forces 27 January 1954
Flag of Thailand Field Marshal Luang Plaek Pibulsonggram Thai Royal Army 2 May 1955
Flag of Thailand King Rama IX Thai Armed Forces 28 June 1960
Flag of India Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa Indian Army
Flag of Turkey President Kenan Evren Turkish Armed Forces 27 June 1988
Flag of France General Michel Roquejeoffre French Army 14 July 1991
Flag of the United Kingdom General Sir Peter de la Billière British Army 14 July 1991
Flag of Turkey General Hilmi Özkök Turkish Armed Forces 2002
Flag of Israel General Gabi Ashkenazi Israeli Defence Forces 24 July 2008
Flag of Pakistan General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Pakistani Army 26 February 2009
  • Legionnaire:
    • First award to Lieutenant Ann A. Bernatitus, heroic Navy Nurse who served at Bataan and Corregidor.[4]\
    • At the beginning of the North African campaign, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer accompanied General Mark Wayne Clark by submarine to North Africa. 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.

[5]

[edit] 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. The ribbon design also follows the pattern of the Purple Heart ribbon.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Legion of Merit". Awards. Institute of Heraldry. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/LOM1.html. Retrieved on 2006-08-20. 
  2. ^ "Types of the Medal of Honor: 1862 To Present." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved: 23 July 2006.
  3. ^ Executive Order 9260 of 29th October 1942 http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/print.php?pid=58838
  4. ^ Home of the Heroes. Lieutenant (j.g.) Ann A. Bernatitus, "Angel of Mercy".
  5. ^ "Service Aviation". Flight (Reed Business Information Ltd): p637. 17 October 1958. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200633.html. 

[edit] External links

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Federal military decorations
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Federal service medals
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