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15 unusual facts about Legion of Merit


Allan Rockwell McCann

For his services in those assignments he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Vice Admiral McCann's decorations included: Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Bronze Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, World War I Victory Medal, with Atlantic Fleet Clasp, American Defense Service Medal, with Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

Anatolio B. Cruz

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards).

Battle of Old Baldy

The presence of the Colombian ground forces had been awarded for their exemplary performance in previous fighting and combat, Operations Nomad, Thunderbolt, Climber(Hill 400) and Barbula (Hill 180) with Presidential Citations from the United States and South Korea and U.S. Legion of Merit, Silver Stars and Bronze Stars awarded to the men.

Donald L. Pilling

His awards and decorations included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Gregory C. Horn

Awards he has received include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars and the Navy Achievement Medal with two award stars.

James T. Blair, Jr.

He received the Air Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star among other awards as he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Landis Gores

By the time he completed active duty he had been awarded both the Legion of Merit and the Order of the British Empire.

Legion of Merit

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.

Paco Moncayo

He is a Legion of Merit recipient and has been awarded many Ecuadorian and international decorations for both, his military and political career.

Raffaele Cadorna, Jr.

He was also awarded the Legion of Merit - Degree of Commander for service between September 1943 to May 1945 (General Order 124, 27 December 1945).

Richard Glorioso

While in the Air Force, he received such medals as the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal.

Robert J. Natter

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3 awards), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and various unit and campaign awards.

Rodney P. Rempt

His personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), and the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards with Combat “V”).

Wilfrid Worland

During World War II, he served in the Corps of Engineers, receiving a Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.


Adriel N. Williams

His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Thailand.

Annette E. Brown

Admiral Brown's military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Elliott Cutler

For his contributions to military medicine in the Second World War, he received a second Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit from the United States War Department, the Order of the British Empire by King George VI of Britain, the Croix de Guerre by the French government, the Companion of the Order of the Bath, and Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.

Gerald L. Miller

Awards he received during his career include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Guy M. Townsend

Townsend was awarded the following medals for his military service: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon.

John L. Pierce

For his service during World War II, general Pierce was awarded with Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster by the government of the United States and with Order of the White Lion and with War Cross by the government of the Czechoslovakia for his merits during liberation of Western Bohemia.

John Lucian Smith

For his services in the Philippines during the period November 1944 to June 1945, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceedingly meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Executive Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 32 in extensive support of ground and surface forces in the liberation of Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu Archipelago, and Mindanao.

John P. McConnell

His decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and numerous foreign awards, including Commander of the Order of the British Empire and the Legion of Honor - Degree of Commandeur (France).

John S. Lekson

His medals included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.

John W. O'Daniel

His decorations include the French Croix de Guerre, the British Order of the Bath, the Italian Silver Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.

Linda J. Bird

Her personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.

Margaret G. Kibben

Kibben's personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars.

Mike Crites

A Vietnam veteran, Crites received the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and service awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Nancy J. Lescavage

She is the recipient of the Legion of Merit (four awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, several unit commendations and the General George Joulwan Achievement Award.

Paul Withington

Withington was awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S. Navy in 1945, the Silver Star, the French croix de guerre, the British Mons Star, World War I victory ribbon, the Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon, the American Defense ribbon and the Pacific Asiatic ribbon with star.

Rapp Brush

During its WWII service, the 40th Infantry Division or its members were awarded 3 Distinguished Unit Citations, 1 Medal of Honor, 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Distinguished Service Medal, 245 Silver Stars, 21 Legions of Merit, 30 Soldier's Medals, 1036 Bronze Star Medals and 57 Army Medals.

Ray Barker

His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal or Soldier's Medal.

Robert L. Gordon III

His awards and decorations include the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and two awards of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.

Robert L. Nabors

Major General Nabors received the Distinguished Service Medal, the military's third-highest award; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters; Bronze Star Medal; and the Presidential Support Badge.

Robert Wesley Colglazier, Jr.

His personal decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Order of the British Empire, French Legion of Honor and French Croix de Guerre.

Theodore J. Conway

Conway’s decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; French Legion of Honor; French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Czechoslovak Military Cross; Polish Golden Cross of Merit with Swords; Order of the British Empire; Order of the Crown of Italy; and the Army Distinguished Service Medal (US).

Thomas A. Benes

Awards he received include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal three award stars, the Air Medal with valor device and four strike/flight numerals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Thomas H. Copeman III

Copeman has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (6 awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal as well as various unit and campaign awards.

Walter Short

Major General Short´s decorations include: Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Mexican Border Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with One Battle Star (Pearl Harbor), American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Officer of the Legion of Honour.

William B. Rosson

In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest decoration for valor, General Rosson's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.