Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a distinguished military award of the United States, honoring individuals for exceptionally meritorious service and achievement. What makes it truly extraordinary is its dual role: a significant recognition for American service members, and a unique diplomatic tool often bestowed upon foreign military and political figures in multiple distinct ranks. This fascinating distinction offers a glimpse into its unique origins and purpose as a symbol of both national and international esteem. The Legion of Merit is one of only two U.S. military decorations issued as a neck order, and the sole one that can be awarded in multiple degrees, similar to an order of chivalry. While awarded without degrees to U.S. personnel, its multi-degree structure for foreign recipients makes it a unique instrument of international diplomacy and recognition. Established during World War II, the medal's criteria evolved as other awards were introduced, solidifying its place as a top honor for senior leadership and distinguished service.
AI Summary
The Legion of Merit is a distinguished military award of the United States, honoring individuals for exceptionally meritorious service and achievement. What makes it truly extraordinary is its dual role: a significant recognition for American service members, and a unique diplomatic tool often bestowed upon foreign military and political figures in multiple distinct ranks. This fascinating distinction offers a glimpse into its unique origins and purpose as a symbol of both national and international esteem.
- The Legion of Merit is one of only two U.S. military decorations issued as a neck order, and the sole one that can be awarded in multiple degrees, similar to an order of chivalry.
- While awarded without degrees to U.S. personnel, its multi-degree structure for foreign recipients makes it a unique instrument of international diplomacy and recognition.
- Established during World War II, the medal's criteria evolved as other awards were introduced, solidifying its place as a top honor for senior leadership and distinguished service.
A Mark of Exceptional Service
The Legion of Merit, often abbreviated as LOM, stands as a premier military award within the United States Armed Forces. It's reserved for those who demonstrate exceptionally meritorious conduct, delivering outstanding services and achievements. This distinguished decoration can be presented to members across all eight uniformed services of the U.S., but also—and this is where it truly becomes unique—to military and political leaders from foreign nations.
An Award of Degrees and Distinction
Among U.S. military decorations, the Legion of Merit holds a special place. Its Commander degree is one of only two U.S. awards worn as a neck order, the other being the revered Medal of Honor. More remarkably, it's the only U.S. military decoration that can be issued in different degrees—much like the ancient orders of chivalry. However, these distinct degrees, including the neck ribbon, are exclusively awarded to non-U.S. nationals.
In the complex hierarchy of U.S. military awards, the Legion of Merit ranks seventh overall. It is worn after the Defense Superior Service Medal and before the Distinguished Flying Cross. For American personnel, it's typically awarded to general officers and colonels in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, and to flag officers and captains in the Navy and Coast Guard who hold senior command or very senior staff positions.
While primarily for senior officers, the LOM can also recognize officers of lesser rank, senior warrant officers, and even very senior enlisted personnel. These instances are less common and often by exception, reflecting specific achievements or unique command responsibilities within their respective branches of service.
Who Can Bestow the Honor?
The authority to award the Legion of Merit is held at a very high level. It's typically reserved for general officers and flag officers at the rank of lieutenant general or vice admiral and above. Additionally, senior civilian Department of Defense personnel, such as assistant service secretaries, and equivalent secretary-level officials within the Department of Homeland Security with direct oversight of the U.S. Coast Guard, can also authorize this distinguished award.
Criteria for International and Domestic Recipients
The Legion of Merit employs a fascinating two-tiered system for its bestowal. For members of foreign armed forces, it is awarded in four distinct degrees: Chief Commander, Commander, Officer, and Legionnaire. These degrees are determined by the recipient's relative rank or position, formally outlined in military regulations. It’s a powerful gesture of international respect and alliance.
However, when presented to members of the uniformed services of the United States, the Legion of Merit is always awarded without reference to any specific degree. For U.S. personnel, the criteria remain consistently 'for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements,' typically reserved for senior officers at the O-6 level and above, often tied to significant leadership roles or substantial responsibility.
This unique system of degrees, along with aspects of its design—a striking five-armed cross—was notably influenced by the prestigious French Legion of Honour, or Légion d'honneur. It's a clear nod to historical military traditions and the concept of an order of merit.
A Medal Born of War: Its History
World War II Origins
The idea for a medal recognizing meritorious service began to circulate as early as September 1937, long before the U.S. entered World War II. Yet, despite these initial discussions, no formal action was taken to approve such an award at that time.
It wasn't until December 24, 1941, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, that the Adjutant General formally requested action to create a meritorious service medal. Designs were quickly prepared, and by January 1942, various proposals were being reviewed, highlighting the urgent need for such an honor during wartime.
The chosen design was approved by the Secretary of War in April 1942, and the medal, now officially named the Legion of Merit, was ready. All that remained was legislative authorization, which quickly followed, paving the way for its introduction. (Note: A separate Meritorious Service Medal would later be established in 1969 for a different range of service.)
Congress formally established the Legion of Merit through Public Law 671 on July 20, 1942. This act stipulated that the medal 'shall have suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees,' and authorized the President to award it under prescribed rules and regulations.
On October 29, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt formalized the rules for the Legion of Merit via Executive Order 9260, requiring the President's personal approval for each award. This ensured the medal's prestige and the significance of its recognition.
Initially, following the North African invasion in November 1942, some U.S. officers, including future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lyman Lemnitzer, received the Legion of Merit in the 'Officer' degree. However, regulations were swiftly revised soon after, ensuring that U.S. military personnel would not be awarded the LOM in degrees higher than 'Legionnaire,' cementing its unique dual system.
The Legion of Merit shares a design similarity with the French Legion of Honour—both feature a five-armed cross—and the concept of multiple degrees. However, a crucial difference is that the LOM is awarded exclusively to military personnel. Furthermore, it's the only award globally with multiple degrees where the higher degrees cannot be bestowed upon citizens of the originating country.
The very first recipient of the Legion of Merit was Brazilian Army Brigadier General Amaro Soares Bittencourt, who received the 'Commander' degree in October 1942. Just a week later, Lieutenant, junior grade Ann A. Bernatitus, a U.S. Navy Nurse Corps officer, became the first American and the first woman to receive the award, honored for her courageous service during the defense of the Philippines. She was also the first authorized to wear a 'Combat V' device with her medal.
Another notable early recipient was General Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was presented with the Legion of Merit by President Roosevelt himself on November 26, 1943, in Cairo, Egypt, as Eisenhower was en route to the pivotal Tehran Conference.
Over time, the approval authority for U.S. personnel shifted. In 1943, at the request of Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall, this power was delegated to the Department of War. Subsequent Executive Orders, including one from President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1955, further revised this. Today, the authority typically rests with general officers and flag officers at the lieutenant general or vice admiral level or higher.
A specific distinction for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, unlike the Army and Air Force, was the provision for the Legion of Merit to be awarded with a 'V' device. This device signifies that the award was given for participation in combat operations, adding another layer of valor to the recognition.
From 1942 to 1944, the Legion of Merit was quite versatile. Before the establishment of the Bronze Star Medal in 1944, it was the only decoration below the Silver Star that could be awarded for combat valor, and the sole decoration below the Distinguished Service Medal for meritorious non-combat service. This broad application speaks to its early importance.
Post-World War II Evolution
After the Bronze Star Medal was established in February 1944, the Legion of Merit's role began to specialize. It became almost exclusively awarded to senior officers, typically lieutenant colonels or commanders and above. By the 1980s, its scope expanded slightly, with more frequent awards to senior warrant officers and senior enlisted service members, often as a prestigious retirement award.
In 1969, the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was created as a 'junior' version of the Legion of Merit. Until 2003, the MSM was specifically for non-combat service, awarded more frequently and to a wider range of lower-ranking personnel than the LOM. This helped define the LOM's senior-level focus even further.
The Insignia: Design and Symbolism
The ribbon for all degrees and forms of the Legion of Merit is a striking design: one and three-eighths inches wide, featuring a central crimson stripe flanked by narrow white stripes. Interestingly, the reverse side of all medals carries the motto 'ANNUIT COEPTIS,' taken from the Great Seal of the United States, and 'MDCCLXXXII' (1782), nodding to the Badge of Military Merit, known today as the Purple Heart—whose ribbon design also shares this pattern.
Subsequent awards of the Legion of Merit are denoted by specific devices. In the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, these are represented by oak leaf clusters. For the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, subsequent awards are indicated by gold stars. It's also worth noting that until 2017, the sea services authorized a 'V' device for wear on the LOM, signifying valor in combat, a practice not adopted by the Army, Air Force, or Space Force.
Article
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.
The Legion of Merit (Commander degree) is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor), and the only United States military decoration that may be issued in degrees (much like an order of chivalry or certain orders of merit), although the degrees including a neck ribbon are only awarded to non-U.S. nationals.
The Legion of Merit is seventh in the order of precedence of all U.S. military awards and is worn after the Defense Superior Service Medal and before the Distinguished Flying Cross. In contemporary use in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Legion of Merit is typically awarded to Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force general officers and colonels, and Navy and Coast Guard flag officers and captains occupying senior command or very senior staff positions in their respective services. It may also be awarded to officers of lesser rank, senior warrant officers (typically in command positions at the rank of chief warrant officer 5), and to very senior enlisted personnel (typically in the rank of command sergeant major and Sergeant Major of the Army in the Army, fleet master chief petty officer and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy in the Navy, command chief master sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force in the Air Force, command chief master sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force in the Space Force, and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in the Marine Corps), but these instances are less frequent, typically by exception, and the circumstances vary by branch of service.
Authority to award the Legion of Merit is reserved for general officers and flag officers in pay grade O-9 (i.e., lieutenant general, vice admiral) and above, civilian Department of Defense personnel at assistant service secretary or Assistant Secretary of Defense level and above, or equivalent secretary-level civilian personnel with the Department of Homeland Security with direct oversight of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Criteria
Legion of Merit
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 Army Regulation 672-7 and is based on the relative rank or position of the recipient as follows:
When the Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the uniformed services 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" and is typically reserved for senior officers at O-6 level and above, typically in connection with senior leadership/command positions or other senior positions of significant responsibility.
• 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 are 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 influenced by the French Legion of Honour (Légion d'honneur).
History
Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit with golden "V" device (as used by USN and USMC) denoting combat bravery. The "V" device ceased being awarded with the Legion of Merit in 2017.
World War II
Although recommendations for the creation of a medal for meritorious service 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 that 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 the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (Colonel Heard) by the QMG on January 5, 1942.
The Assistant Chief of Staff (G-1), Brigadier General John H. Hilldring, in a response to the QMG on April 3, 1942, indicated the Secretary of War had 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. (A separate medal called the Meritorious Service Medal was established in 1969.)
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 of the 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 August 5, 1942. Executive Order 9260, dated October 29, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, established the rules for the Legion of Merit, and required the President's approval for the award.
Following the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, several United States officers were awarded the Legion of Merit in the degree of Officer. One of the recipients was future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lyman Lemnitzer. Soon after, regulations for the award of the Legion of Merit were revised so that it would not be awarded in the degrees above Legionnaire to United States military personnel.
The Legion of Merit is similar to the French Legion of Honor in both its design, a five-armed cross, and in that it is awarded in multiple degrees. Unlike the Legion of Honor, however, the Legion of Merit is only awarded to military personnel. In addition, it is the only award in the world that offers multiple degrees, of which the higher degrees cannot be awarded to citizens of the country of origin.
In October 1942, Brazilian Army Brigadier General Amaro Soares Bittencourt became the first person awarded the Legion of Merit (Commander) and a week later, Lieutenant, junior grade Ann A. Bernatitus, a U.S. Navy Nurse Corps officer, became the first member of the United States Armed Forces and the first woman to receive the Legion of Merit. She received the award for her service during the defense of the Philippines. LTJG Bernatitus was also the first recipient of the Legion of Merit authorized to wear a Combat "V" with the medal.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was presented the Legion of Merit by President Roosevelt while he was en route to the Tehran Conference, in Cairo, Egypt, on November 26, 1943.
In 1943, at the request of the Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, approval authority for U.S. personnel was delegated to the Department of War. Executive Order 10600, dated March 15, 1955, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, again revised approval authority. Current provisions are contained in Title 10, United States Code 1121. As a result, awarding authority for the Legion of Merit resides with general officers/flag officers at the Lieutenant General / Vice Admiral level or higher.
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, unlike the Army and later the Air Force, provided for the Legion of Merit to be awarded with a "V" device indicating awards for participation in combat operations.
From 1942 to 1944, the Legion of Merit was awarded for a fairly wide range of achievements. This was because it was, until the establishment of the Bronze Star Medal in 1944, the only decoration below the Silver Star which could be awarded for combat valor, and the only decoration below the Distinguished Service Medal which could be awarded for meritorious noncombat service.
After World War II
Legion of Merit award certificates
After the establishment of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) in February 1944, the Legion of Merit was awarded almost exclusively to senior officers in the rank of lieutenant colonel (Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force) or commander (Navy and Coast Guard) (O-5), and above. Beginning in the 1980s, the Legion of Merit was awarded more frequently to senior-ranking warrant officers (W-4 and W-5) and to senior enlisted service members (E-8 and E-9), usually as a retirement award. When not awarded as a retirement award, it is most commonly awarded to officers in pay grade O-6 and higher.
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was established in 1969 as a "junior" version of the Legion of Merit and, before 2003, was awarded only for noncombat service. The MSM is awarded more frequently, and to more lower-ranking military personnel, than the Legion of Merit. Recipients of the MSM are usually in pay grades E-7 through E-9, W-3 through W-5 (Army Only), and O-4 through O-6 for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force; for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the MSM is usually presented to those in pay grades E-9, W-4, W-5, O-5, and O-6.
Insignia
Legion of Merit
<table><thead><tr><th>Chief Commander</th><th>Commander</th><th>Officer</th><th>Legionnaire</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Ribbon</td></tr></tbody></table>
• 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 Great Seal of the United States. 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 Great Seal of the United States. Between each star point, within the wreath, are crossed war arrows pointing outwards, representing armed protection to the Nation. The overall width is 2+1⁄4 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": a combination of the motto from the Great Seal, "He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings", with the date for the first award of a US decoration, the Purple Heart. An outer scroll contains the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." A miniature of the decoration in silver is worn on a horizontal silver bar on the service ribbon.
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 (1.6 mm) white 67101; center 1+13⁄16 inches (46 mm) crimson and 1⁄16 inch (1.6 mm) white.
• The Officer Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is similar to the degree of Commander except the overall width is 1+7⁄8 inches (48 mm) and the pendant has a suspension ring instead of the wreath for attaching the ribbon. A gold replica of the medal, 3⁄4 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 (1.6 mm) white; center 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) crimson; and 1⁄16 inch (1.6 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.
Additional awards of the Legion of Merit are denoted by oak leaf clusters (in the Army, Air Force, and Space Force), and by 5⁄16 inch (7.9 mm) gold stars (in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard). Until 2017, the sea services (the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) awarded the Combat "V" for wear on the LOM. The Army, Air Force, and Space Force do not authorize the "V" device for the Legion of Merit.