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The Legion of Merit is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to 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 the only United States decoration to be issued in award degrees.1 Criteria
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.
2 Degrees
Members of the United States military receive the Legion of Merit medal which is issued without degree. However, when bestowing the Legion of Merit upon members of foreign militaries or
governments, the Legion of Merit is issued in the following degrees:
- Chief Commander - Chief of State or Head of Government
- Commander - Equivalent of an U.S. military Chief of Staff or higher position but not to Chief of State.
- Officer - General or Flag Officer below the equivalent of a U.S. military Chief of Staff; also a 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.
- Legionnaire - All recipients not included above
3 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 December 24, 1941, 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 January 5, 1942. The Assistant Chief of Staff G1 (BG Hilldring) in a response to the QMG on April 3, 1942, indicated the Secretary of War approved the design recommended by the QMG and directed action be taken to assure the design of the Legion of Merit (change of name) 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 July 20,
1942, 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 8 September 1939, 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 August 5, 1942. Executive Order 9260, dated
October 29, 1942, by President Franklin Roosevelt, established the rules for the Legion
of Merit and required the President's approval for 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 March 15March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). There are 291 days remaining. In the Roman calendar March 15 was known as the Ides of March. Events 44 BC Ides of March: Julius Caesar, General of the Roman Republic, was, 19551955 is a common year starting on Saturday. see link for calendar) Events January events January 2 Panama president Jose Antonio Remon is assassinated. January 19 The Scrabble board game debuts. February events February 8 Nikolai Bulganin ousts Georgi Mal, by President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower ( October 14, 1890 March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States ( 1953 1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General, revised approval authority. Current provisions are contained in Title 10, United States CodeThe United States Code U. is the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. Once a Public Law is enacted, its operative provisions are usually incorporated into the U. There are a few exceptions (in which case one must consult the Public Law 1121.
