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:
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]. The Chief Commander is worn on the left breast pocket
Commander – Equivalent of a U.S. military Chief of Staff or higher position but not to Chief of State. The Commander is worn around the neck.
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.
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.
Distribution of US Army Legion of Merit awards during World War II
Grade of Recipient Number of Awards Percent of Total
- Enlisted 3,114 15.36
- Company Grade Officers* 2,185 10.78
- Field Grade Officers 13,648 67.32
- General Officers 1,326 6.54
*Includes Warrant Officers, Flight Officers, Junior Officers, Army Nurse Corps and Woman’s Army Corps officers.
First American to receive the Legion of Merit was Lieutenant Junior Grade Ann Agnes, who was a Navy Nurse. She was the only member of the Navy medical staff to escape from Bataan and Corregidor after the Japanese attacked the Philippines in December 1941. Her award was approved by President Roosevelt on 14 October 1942. When Lieutenant Junior Grade Ann Agnes was presented the award, she was only Received the ribbon bar.
Carl A. Bogar, Jr. Founder / Senior Historian Historic Military Impressions