Legion of Merit

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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.
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".
• 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
  Légion d'honneur
  
  The L?gion d'honneur or Ordre national de la L?gion d'honneur is a France order established by Napoleon I of France, First Consul of the French First Republic, on May 19, 1802....
  .

History

Notable recipients

• Chief Commander:
• British General Sir Kenneth A.N. Anderson
  Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson
  
  General Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson, Order of the Bath, Military Cross, was a British Army officer in both the World War I and World War IIs....
  , KCB, MC (18 June 1943)
• Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
  Chiang Kai-shek
  
  Chiang Kai-shek , Order of the Bath , served as Generalissimo of the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1948. He was sometimes referred to simply as "the Generalissimo"....
   (July 1943)
• British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, (6 August 1943)
• Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder of Glenguin, GCB (27 August 1943)
• British Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley
  Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley
  
  Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley Victoria Cross, Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Cross , Deputy Lieutenant, Royal Navy was a British Admiral in World War II and a hero of the World War I....
   VC, (September 1944) commander of Royal Australian Navy in WW II
• Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Travers Harris
  Arthur Travers Harris
  
  Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Travers Harris, 1st Baronet Order of the Bath Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross RAF , commonly known as "Bomber" Harris by the press, and often within the RAF as "Butcher" Harris, was Air Officer Commanding of RAF Bomber Command and later a Marshal of the Royal Air Force during...
  , 1st Baronet GCB OBE AFC RAF (17 October 1944)
• King George VI of the United Kingdom (1945)
• British Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham
  Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
  
  Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Order of the Thistle, Order of the Bath, Order of Merit, Distinguished Service Order , older brother of Alan Cunningham, was a United Kingdom admiral of the World War II....
   GCB DSO Royal Navy
• 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 Sir Bertram Home Ramsay
  Bertram Ramsay
  
  Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay Order of the Bath, Order of British Empire, Royal Victoria Order was a United Kingdom admiral during World War II....
   KCB, KBE, MVO, Royal Navy (For gallant and distinguished service whilst in command of the invasion operations on Normandy)
• Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
  Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
  
  General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is a Pakistani general and the current Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army of the Pakistan Army. Kayani replaced Pervez Musharraf as the leader of the army on November 28, 2007....
   (2009)
• British Acting Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham
  Arthur Coningham (RAF officer)
  
  Air Marshal Sir Arthur "Mary" Coningham Order of the Bath Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross Royal Air Force , was born in Brisbane, Australia and educated in New Zealand....
   KCB, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC, Royal Air Force
• British Admiral of the Fleet
  Admiral of the Fleet
  
  An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments....
   Sir Philip Vian
  Philip Vian
  
  Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order and two Medal bar, was a United Kingdom naval officer who served in both World Wars....
   G.C.B., K.B.E., C.M.G. (17 July 1945)
• Marshal of the Soviet Union
  Marshal of the Soviet Union
  
  Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. . Stalin, however, refused this honor, and was always depicted wearing Marshal's insignia....
   Georgy Zhukov
  Georgy Zhukov
  
  Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Order of the Bath was a Soviet Union military commander who, in the course of World War II, played an important role in leading the Red Army to liberate the Soviet Union from the Axis Powers' occupation, to advance through much of Eastern Europe, and to conquer Nazi Germany's capita...
   (1945)
• King Michael I of Romania
  Michael I of Romania
  
  Michael reigned as King of Romania from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940, until forced to abdicate by the Communist Party of Romania backed up by orders of Stalin to the Soviet armies of occupation on December 30, 1947....
   (1945)
• Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
  Ethiopia
  
  Ethiopia , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east and Djibouti to the northeast....
   (1945)
• King Olav V of Norway (1945)
• Yugoslav Royal Army General Draža Mihailovic
  Draža Mihailovic
  
  Dragoljub "Dra?a" Mihailovic was a Serbian general now primarily remembered as the World War II leader of the Chetnik movement. The organization, officially named the "Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland" , was founded as a royalist/nationalist Serbian resistance movement, but eventually transformed into a Collaborationism Axis militia fighting...
   (29 March 1948)
• British Field Marshal William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
  William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
  
  Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill" Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, Order of the Garter, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Venerable Order of St....
   KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC (1948)
• Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, KT, AK, CH, QC (1950)
• Thai Royal Army Field Marshal Luang Plaek Pibulsonggram
  Plaek Pibulsonggram
  
  Field Marshal Thai royal and noble titles#Luang Plaek Pibulsonggram was List of Prime Ministers of Thailand and military dictator of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957....
   (2 May 1955)
• King Bhumibol Adulyadej
  Bhumibol Adulyadej
  
  Bhumibol Adulyadej , is the current Monarchy of Thailand. Publicly acclaimed "the Great" , he is also known as Rama . Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's List of longest reigning current monarchs current head of state and the List of longest reigning monarchs of all time monarch in History of Thailand....
   Rama IX of Thailand (28 June 1960)
• Indian Army Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
• Turkish ex-Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Hilmi Özkök
  Hilmi Özkök
  
  General Hilmi ?zk?k was the 24th Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces. He took up that post on August 28, 2002 and served until August 30, 2006 when he retired and was succeeded by General Yasar B?y?kanit....
   (2002)
• Israeli General, IDF
  Israel Defense Forces
  
  The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew Acronym and initialism Tzahal , are Israel's military forces, comprising the GOC Army Headquarters, Israeli Air Force and Israeli navy....
   Chief Commander Gabi Ashkenazi
  Gabi Ashkenazi
  
  Rav Aluf Gabi Ashkenazi , born 1954 in Hagor, Israel, is the 19th Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defence Forces ....
   (24 July 2008)
• Commander:
• Lieutenant General
  Lieutenant General
  
  Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
   Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg
  Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg
  
  Lieutenant General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg Victoria Cross, Order of St Michael and St George, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order , arguably New Zealand's most famous soldier and military commander, also served as Governor-General of New Zealand....
   VC
  Victoria Cross
  
  The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth of Nations countries, and previous British Empire territories....
  , arguably New Zealand
  New Zealand
  
  New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
  's most famous soldier and military commander, also served as Governor-General of New Zealand
  Governor-General of New Zealand
  
  The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the Monarchy in New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's viceroy representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
  .
• Brazil's Brigadier General Amaro Soares Bittencourt was the first to receive the medal in a degree.
• Colombian's General I.M Elias Nino Herrera, Colombian Marine Corps, For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commandant of the Colombian Marine Corps. General Nino's cooperation and understanding have been a significant contribution to the mutual friendship between Colombia and the United States.
• Ecuador's General de Ejercito (General of the Army) Paco Moncayo
  Paco Moncayo
  
  Paco Moncayo Gallegos is a former Mayor of Quito, Ecuador and a retired General of the Army.During his military career he gained the respect and admiration of his fellow Ecuadorians mostly because of his conduct of the Alto Cenepa War between Ecuador and Per?....
  , 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
  Alfredo M. Santos
  
  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 of the Philippines' armed forces....
  , Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 1962 - 1965
• Australia's Chiefs of the Defence Force
  Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
  
  Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force. The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister for Defence , in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence ....
   - General Sir Phillip Bennett
  Phillip Bennett
  
  General Sir Phillip Harvey Bennett, Order of Australia, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order was the Governors of Tasmania of Tasmania from 1987 to 1995, and Chief of the Defence Force from 1984 to 1987....
  , Generals John Baker
  John Baker (general)
  
  General John Stuart Baker, Order of Australia, Distinguished Service Medal was an Australian army general. He was Chief of the Defence Force of the Australian Defence Force from July 1995 to July 1998....
  , and General Peter Cosgrove
  Peter Cosgrove
  
  General Peter John Cosgrove Order of Australia, Military Cross is an Australian general. He was the Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 3 July 2002 to 3 July 2005, when he retired from active service....
  
• General Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, OC, CMM, CH, CD
  John de Chastelain
  
  Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, Order of Canada, Order of the Companions of Honour, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a retired Canada soldier and diplomat....
   was appointed Commander of the Legion of Merit in 1995, and in 1999, he was made a Companion of Honour by HM The Queen
  Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
  
  Elizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known as the Commonwealth realms: Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, Monarchy of Australia, Monarchy of New Zealand, Monarchy of Jamaica, Monarchy of Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Monarchy of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Sain...
  . He is the former Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
  Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
  
  The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, after the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, who appoints the CDS and from whom the CDS receives his or her orders....
   for the Canadian Forces
  Canadian Forces
  
  The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces." This singular institution consists of thre...
   and he is the Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
  Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
  
  The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was established to oversee the Decommissioning in Northern Ireland in Ireland, as part of the Northern Ireland peace process....
   since November 1995 for the Northern Ireland peace process
  Northern Ireland peace process
  
  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 Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments....
  .
• Stefan Rowecki
  Stefan Rowecki
  
  Stefan Pawel Rowecki was a Poland general, journalist and the leader of the Armia Krajowa. He was murderd by the Gestapo in prison, probably on the direct order of Heinrich Himmler....
   "Grot," Polish General and the Commander of the Home Army. He was decorated posthumously
  Posthumous recognition
  
  File:US Flag-ceremony.JPGA posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died, usually in honor of an action associated with his or her death....
   on August 9, 1984 by Ronald Reagan
  Ronald Reagan
  
  Ronald Wilson Reagan was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the 33rd Governor of California . Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s, where he was an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild , and a spokesman for General Electric ....
  .
• Lt. Gen. Wladyslaw Anders
  Wladyslaw Anders
  
  Lieutenant-General Wladyslaw Anders CB was a General in the Poland Army and later in life a politician with the Polish government-in-exile in London....
  , Polish General and the Commander of the 2nd Polish Corps.
• German Generals Hans-Otto Budde, Adolf Heusinger
  Adolf Heusinger
  
  Adolf Heusinger was a Germany General officer during World War II and served as the first Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, the West German armed forces, after the war....
  , Klaus Naumann
  Klaus Naumann
  
  Klaus Naumann, Order of the British Empire is a retired Germany General officer, who was Inspector General of the Bundeswehr from 1991 to 1996 and Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1996 to 1999, succeeding the United Kingdom general Richard Frederick Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill....
   and Wolfgang Schneiderhan
  Wolfgang Schneiderhan (General)
  
  Wolfgang Schneiderhan is a Germany General officer who has been the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr since July 27 2002. Born in Riedlingen, he is married and has five children....
  
• French Generals Edgard de Larminat
  Edgard de Larminat
  
  Edgard de Larminat was a France general, who fought in two World Wars. He was one of the most important military figures who rejoined the Free French forces in 1940....
  , Alain de Boissieu
  Alain de Boissieu
  
  Alain de Boissieu was a French general, Free French, Compagnon de la Lib?ration, Army chief of staff and son-in-law of general Charles de Gaulle....
   and Vincent Desportes
  Vincent Desportes
  
  Vincent Desportes is a French Army general and military theorist.Desportes graduated from the ?cole sp?ciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, specialising in armour warfare....
  
• Bangladesh Army's Brigadier General Sharif Uddin Ahmed was the first Bangladesh
  Bangladesh
  
  , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south....
  i General to receive this award for his outstanding service as the Defence Attache from 1985 to 1989 in Bangladesh Embassy, United States.
• General Sir Peter de la Billière
  Peter de la Billière
  
  General officer Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billi?re Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross Medal bar is a former British soldier, who was Director of the United Kingdom Special Forces during the Iranian Embassy Siege and Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the 1990 Gulf War....
   KCB, KBE, DSO, MC & bar, commander of the British forces during Gulf War I
• General Michael John Dawson Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham GCB, CMG, CBE, ADC, DL, former Chief of the Defence Staff
  Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
  
  The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces and the principal military adviser to the British Government....
   (CDS) in the United Kingdom
  United Kingdom
  
  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
   and Commander of the Implementation Force
  IFOR
  
  The Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, having taken over from UNPR...
   in Bosnia
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  
  Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country on the Balkans peninsula of South Eastern Europe with an area of 51,129 square kilometres . Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the south, Bosnia and Herzegovina is Landlocked#Nearly landlocked, except for 26 kilometres of the Adriatic Sea coas...
  .
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park
  Keith Park
  
  Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park Order of the Bath, Order of British Empire, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross , RAF , was a New Zealand soldier, First World War air ace, and later senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the World War II....
   of New Zealand, Royal Air Force
  Royal Air Force
  
  The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
   commander during the Battle of Britain
  Battle of Britain
  
  The Battle of Britain is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the Luftwaffe during the summer and autumn of 1940 to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force , especially RAF Fighter Command....
   and later Allied Air Commander South East Asia.
• Wing Commander
  Wing Commander
  
  Wing Commander may refer to:*Wing Commander , a military rank used by the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, it is also a Commander#United States Air Force usually held by a colonel in charge of an Wing #United States usage...
   Guy Gibson
  Guy Gibson
  
  Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order Medal bar, Distinguished Flying Cross Medal bar, Royal Air Force , was the first Commanding officer of the Royal Air Force's No....
  , Royal Air Force
  Royal Air Force
  
  The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
  , leader of the Dams raid (Operation Chastise
  Operation Chastise
  
  Operation Chastise was the official name for the attacks on German dams on 17 May 1943 in the Second World War using a specially developed "bouncing bomb"....
  ) in 1943.
• Turkish ex-Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Mehmet Yasar Büyükanit (12 December 2005)
• Major General
  Major General
  
  Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General....
   William Henry Evered Poole
  Evered Poole
  
  William Henry Evered Poole, Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, was a South African soldier before and during World War II and afterwards a diplomat....
  , CB, CBE, DSO, Commander of the 6th South African Armoured Division which was part of the 5th US Army during the Italian Campaign
  Italian Campaign (World War II)
  
  The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allies operations in and around Italy, from History of Italy as a monarchy and in the World Wars#Italy and the Second World War ....
   in World War II
  World War II
  
  World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
  .
• Admiral Sir Gerald Charles Dickens
  Gerald Charles Dickens
  
  Admiral Sir Gerald Louis Charles Dickens, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Royal Navy, was a senior Royal Navy officer and the grandson of Victorian era English novel Charles Dickens....
   KCVO, CB, CMG, of the Royal Navy
  Royal Navy
  
  The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
   (1945).

• Officer:
• First recipients were Colonel Johanes K. Meijer of the Royal Netherlands Army
  Royal Netherlands Army
  
  The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands. The core fighting element of the army is divided into three separate brigades: two mechanised brigades and one airborne brigade....
  , Major Herbert J. Thompson of the British Army, and Major Stephan M. Dobrowalski of the Polish
  Poland
  
  Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
   Army.
• 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
  Roméo Dallaire
  
  Lieutenant-General Rom?o Antonius Dallaire, Order of Canada Order of Military Merit National Order of Quebec Meritorious Service Decoration Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian Canadian Senate, humanitarian, author and retired general....
   of the Canadian Army was made an Officer of the Legion for his role as Commander of the United Nations
  United Nations
  
  The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, Social change, human rights and achieving world peace....
   peacekeeping
  Peacekeeping
  
  Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
   force in Rwanda
  Rwanda
  
  The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania....
   during the civil war and subsequent genocide.
• Francis Grevemberg
  Francis Grevemberg
  
  Francis Carroll Grevemberg , was the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police from 1952 to 1955, best remembered for his fight against organized crime....
  , with combat star for outstanding performance at Anzio
  Anzio
  
  Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about 57 km south of Rome. Well known for its seaside harbor setting, it is a fishing port popular with tourists and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene....
  , Italy
  Italy
  
  Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
  , during World War II.
• Air Chief Marshal
  Air Chief Marshal
  
  Air Chief Marshal is a senior air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force . The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-speci...
   Sir Glenn Torpy
  Glenn Torpy
  
  Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Lester Torpy, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, Aide-de-camp, Bachelor of Science, Royal Air Force is the current Chief of the Air Staff ....
   Head of the Royal Air Force, for his part in operation Telic/ Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Brigadier General Tariq Khan
  Tariq Khan
  
  Tariq Khan is a citizen of Pakistan who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States's Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.His Guantanamo Internee Security Number is 97....
   became the first Pakistan
  Pakistan
  
  Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia and borders Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 1,046 kilometre coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and People's Republic of China in th...
  i Officer to receive the award for meritorious services as a liaison officer during Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the award on 9 December 2007.

• Legionnaire:
• First award to Lieutenant Ann A. Bernatitus
  Ann A. Bernatitus
  
  Ann Agnes Bernatitus was a United States Navy nurse who served during World War II. In October 1942, she became the first American recipient of the Legion of Merit for her heroism during the siege of Battle of Bataan and Battle of Corregidor from December 1941 through April 1942....
  , heroic Navy Nurse
  United States Navy Nurse Corps
  
  The United States Navy Nurse Corps was formally established by the United States Congress in 1908. For nearly 100 years previously, however, women had worked as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals....
   who served at Bataan
  Bataan
  
  Bataan is a Provinces of the Philippines of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines....
   and Corregidor
  Corregidor
  
  Corregidor is an island in the entrance of the Philippines' Manila Bay. Due to its position in the bay, it has served as a focal point for the naval defenses of the capital city of Manila....
  .\
• At the beginning of the North African campaign, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer accompanied General Mark Wayne Clark
  Mark Wayne Clark
  
  Mark Wayne Clark was a brilliant United States general during World War II and the Korean War. He was one of the five American commanders in WW2 and was the youngest full General ever in the American army....
   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.

• Without Degree:
• Carlton W. Kent
  Carlton W. Kent
  
  Sergeant Major#United States Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent is the current Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, assuming the post on April 25, 2007....
  , the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 2007, two awards.
• Colonel John Boyd
  John Boyd (military strategist)
  
  Colonel John Boyd was a United States Air Force Fighter aircraft aviator and military Strategy of the late 20th century, whose Theory have been highly influential in the military and in business....
  , USAF, important military strategist, creator of the OODA Loop
  OODA Loop
  
  The OODA Loop is a concept applied to the combat operations process, often at strategic level in both the military and commercial operations. It was created by military strategy and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd ....
  .
• David H. Hackworth
  David H. Hackworth
  
  David Haskell Hackworth known affectionately as "Hack", was a highly decorated United States Army colonel and prominent military journalist....
   - Highly decorated Vietnam veteran who was awarded several Silver Star
  Silver Star
  
  The Silver Star is the third highest Awards and decorations of the United States military that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces....
  s and 2 Distinguished Service Crosses
• American Walter T. Carpenter Jr., OSS member and noble participant of Operation Halyard.
• Hyman G. Rickover
  Hyman G. Rickover
  
  Hyman George Rickover , was a four-star Admiral in the United States Navy. Rickover was known as the "Father of the List of United States Naval reactors", which as of July 2007 had produced 200 nuclear-powered Submarines in the United States Navy, and 23 nuclear-powered List of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy and List of c...
  , the "Father of the Nuclear Navy"
• Michael Mullen
  Michael Mullen
  
  Admiral Michael Glenn "Mike" Mullen, United States Navy , is the 17th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Mullen previously served as the United States Navy 28th Chief of Naval Operations from July 22, 2005 to September 29, 2007....
  , six awards, Chief of Naval Operations, later Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
• John P. Abizaid, six awards, former commander of U.S. Central Command
• Edward L. Beach, Jr.
  Edward L. Beach, Jr.
  
  Edward Latimer Beach, Jr. was a Edward L. Beach, Jr.#Awards and decorations United States Navy submarine officer and best-selling author.During World War II, he participated in the Battle of Midway and 12 combat patrols, earning 10 decorations for gallantry, including the Navy Cross....
  , commanding officer of USS Triton (SSRN-586)
  USS Triton (SSRN-586)
  
  USS Triton , a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine, was the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth, accomplishing this during her shakedown cruise in early 1960....
   for the first submerged circumnavigation
  Circumnavigation
  
  To circumnavigate a place, such as an island, a continent, or the Earth, is to travel all the way around it by boat or ship. More recently, the term has also been used to cover aerial round-the-world flights....
   of the world.
• Edwin Hubble
  Edwin Hubble
  
  Edwin Powell Hubble was an United States Astronomy. He profoundly changed astronomers' understanding of the nature of the universe by demonstrating the existence of other galaxies besides the Milky Way....
  , American astronomer, for his WWII work at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
  Aberdeen Proving Ground
  
  Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the United States Census, 2000....
  .
• Paul X. Rinn
  Paul X. Rinn
  
  Captain Paul X. Rinn, USN , was the first Commanding officer of the and was in command when the ship struck a mine in the Persian Gulf on April 14, 1988....
  , commanding officer of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58)
  USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58)
  
  USS Samuel B. Roberts is one of the final ships in the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate of guided missile frigates . The ship was severely damaged by an Iranian Naval mine in 1988, leading U.S....
  , who led his crew to save their mine
  Naval mine
  
  A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of or contact with an enemy ship....
  -damaged warship in the Persian Gulf
  Persian Gulf
  
  The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes Persian Gulf naming dispute referred to as the Arabian Gulf by certain Arab countries or simply The Gulf, although nei...
   in 1988.
• William C. Rogers III
  William C. Rogers III
  
  Captain William C. Rogers III, commonly known as Will C. Rogers III, was an officer in the United States Navy and is most notable as the captain of USS Vincennes , a Ticonderoga class cruiser with the Aegis combat system....
  , former commanding officer of the USS Vincennes (CG-49)
  USS Vincennes (CG-49)
  
  The fourth USS Vincennes is a United States Navy Ticonderoga class cruiser Aegis combat system guided missile cruiser. In 1988, the ship shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 civilian passengers onboard including 38 non-Iranians and 66 children....
  , which shot down an Iranian jetliner
  Iran Air Flight 655
  
  Iran Air Flight 655, also known as IR655, was a civilian airliner shot down by United States Surface to air missile on Sunday 3 July 1988, over the Strait of Hormuz, toward the end of the Iran-Iraq War....
   in 1988.
• David Niven
  David Niven
  
  James David Graham Niven was an English people Academy Award for Best Actor-winning actor probably best known for his roles as the punctuality-obsessed adventurer Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and the suave cat burglar Sir Charles Litton in The Pink Panther ....
  , Lt-Col, British Commando in WWII.
• Audie Murphy
  Audie Murphy
  
  Audie Leon Murphy was a much-decorated American soldier who served in the European Theater during World War II. He later became an actor, appearing in 44 American films, and also found some success as a country music composer....
  , most highly decorated US soldier of WWII. Also received Medal of Honor
  Medal of Honor
  
  The Medal of Honor is the highest Awards and decorations of the United States military awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action...
  , Distinguished Service Cross
  Distinguished Service Cross
  
  The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.*Distinguished Service Cross ...
  , 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars w/V Device, 3 Purple Hearts and many others (33 total awards, U.S. and Foreign).
• George Stevens
  George Stevens
  
  George Stevens was an United States film director, film producer, screenwriter and cinematographer....
  , Lieutenant Colonel, U.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
  Kirk Lippold
  
  Commander Kirk S. Lippold, USN , was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole on October 12, 2000 when the USS Cole bombing and bombed by Al-Qaeda terrorists during a refueling stop in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 United States sailor....
  , CDR, Commanding officer of the USS Cole (DDG-67)
  USS Cole (DDG-67)
  
  The second USS Cole is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer Aegis combat system-equipped guided missile destroyer homeported in Naval Station Norfolk....
   which was attacked by suicide bombers in the port of Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000. 2 awards (2nd while aboard USS Cole).
• James G. Stavridis
  James G. Stavridis
  
  Admiral James G. Stavridis, United States Navy is the current Commander, United States Southern Command. He is a 1976 distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a native of south Florida....
  , U.S. Admiral, Southern Command, 5 awards.
• John Kline
  John Kline (politician)
  
  John Paul Kline is an United States politician. He has been a United States Republican Party member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, one of eight Minnesota Congressional Districts....
  , United States Congressman (2003-present), 4 awards.
• Senator John McCain
  John McCain
  
  John Sidney McCain III is the senior senator United States United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican Party presidential nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election....
  , Naval aviator and Vietnam Prisoner of War
• William "Billy" Waugh
  Billy Waugh
  
  Sergeant Major William "Billy" Waugh , is a highly decorated American United States Army Special Forces soldier and a Central Intelligence Agency Paramilitary Operations Officer who served in the United States military and CIA special operations for more than fifty years....
  , for Special Forces service during the Vietnam conflict.
• Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Tuskegee Airman of 99th Squadron was awarded in 1944
• Colonel Todd David Hess
  Todd David Hess
  
  Col. Todd David Hess, Commander, United States Air Force is a retired Colonel, Surgeon and Military Medical Commander. He was the first Air Force member to be inducted into the Army's Order of Military Medical Merit ....
  , First AF member to receive Army Legion of Medical Merit; DCCS LRMC, 435th Medical Squadron, Germany. First physician to ever perform a cataract extraction via phacoemulsification
  Phacoemulsification
  
  Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the eye's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasound handpiece, and aspirated from the eye....
   in the history of the RAF Lakenheath hospital.
• Lt. Cmdr. Henry Plage, Captain of the USS Tabberer, the ship that rescued 55 U.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.
• Jerauld Wright
  Jerauld Wright
  
  Admiral Jerauld Wright, U.S. Navy, served as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Joint Forces Command and the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S....
  , U.S. Navy, 2 awards.
• Llewellyn Chilson, U.S. Army Master Sergeant, World War II. Also received 3 Distinguished Service Cross
  Distinguished Service Cross
  
  The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.*Distinguished Service Cross ...
  es, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars
  Bronze Star Medal
  
  The Bronze Star Medal is a Military of the United States individual Awards and decorations of the United States military which may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service....
  , 3 Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge
  Combat Infantryman Badge
  
  The Combat Infantryman Badge is an award of the United States Army which is presented to those officers, Warrant Officer s and enlisted soldiers, in the grade of Colonel and below, who participate in active ground combat while assigned as a member of an infantry or special forces unit, brigade or smaller size, during any period subsequent to...
  , and the French Croix de Guerre
  Croix de guerre
  
  The croix de guerre is a military decoration of both France and Belgium, where it is also known as the Oorlogskruis . It was first created in 1915 in both countries and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins....
   with Palm.
• Danny L. Chambers, Ohio Army National Guard,Command Sergeant Major, Also received,Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, 2 Meritorious Service Medal
  Meritorious Service Medal
  
  The Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of non-combat meritorious service worthy of recognition....
  ,Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal,Viet Nam Service Medal,Viet Nam Service Ribbon
• Jack L. Taliaferro, Colonel, Texas Army National Guard, also received 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals
• Rear Admiral Nicholas Goodhart
  Nicholas Goodhart
  
  Rear Admiral H.C.Nicholas 'Nick' Goodhart Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath Legion of Merit Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Navy invented the Optical Landing System for aircraft carriers....
  , Royal Navy
  Royal Navy
  
  The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
  , for the invention of the mirror-sight deck landing system
  Optical Landing System
  
  An Optical Landing System is used to give glidepath information to pilots in the terminal phase of landing on an aircraft carrier. From the beginning of aircraft landing on ships in the 1920s to the introduction of OLSs, pilots relied soly on their visual perception of the landing area and the aid of the Landing Signal Officer ....
  . Awarded in 1958
• Capt Gary L. Willis, Recipient of 13 Legion of Merit awards, the most awarded to a single officer

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

God

God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....
) Has Favored Our Undertakings) and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782), which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit

Badge of Military Merit

The Badge of Military Merit is the first military award of the United States Armed Forces. It is the second oldest Awards and decorations of the United States military in existence, the oldest being the Fidelity Medallion....
, now known as the Purple Heart

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is a United States Awards and decorations of the United States military awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the Military of the United States....
. The ribbon design also follows the pattern of the Purple Heart ribbon.

External links