LEGION of MERIT--Showcase

[Thor996]

This is simply a really really nice medal.

[dskjl]

@ dskjl

Please post pictures of the front and reverse.

What your #471 makes a Navy version ?

 

Michael

Pics as requested

[dskjl]

number 471

 

[Allan H.]

The number and the fact that the brooch is an army pattern leads me to believe that this is an army issued medal. Perhaps the army issued a medal to a naval officer?

 

Allan

[dskjl]

The number and the fact that the brooch is an army pattern leads me to believe that this is an army issued medal. Perhaps the army issued a medal to a naval officer?

 

Allan

 

Sorry i thought i read the small jumping connection the ribbon to the medal was Navy. thanks for the insight.

[4STARCHRIS]

British Officer LOM grouping

4starchris

[dskjl]

some minis to go with the above

 

 

 

[aerialbridge]

RADM Arthur G. Robinson, Black Widow Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, Yangtze Service group. The Legion of Merit is an Army contract medal with the larger suspension ring and different brooch than the US Mint Navy Contract medals, which were scarcer, so not uncommon to be seen in WW2 Navy LOM groups.

[aerialbridge]

...

[aerialbridge]

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/336106-black-widow-navy-cross-legion-of-merit-yangtze-patrol-group-to-vadm-arthur-g-robinson/

 

RADM Arthur G. Robinson receiving the Legion of Merit from Undersecretary of the Navy Ralph A. Bard.

[Hermanus]

...

And a Grand Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords. (middle top neck ribbon with the four pointed star below).

 

Nice group.

 

Regards

Herman

[Hermanus]

I posted a separate topic about this medal. Check the below link.

This Officer grade Legion of Merit was awarded in 1977 to the Dutch Air Attaché Colonel Joop J.F. van Brussel RNLAF. It is made by Simco.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/336067-dutch-airforce-colonel-with-named-us-legion-of-merit-officer-grade/

 

A picture of Joop as a Lieutenant Colonel.

 

Regards

Herman

[billrob68]

I was wondering if any members had seen this set up on the mini before.

[billrob68]

Reverse

[Thisisme]

Anyone know the different makers and serial number ranges for the LOM medals?

Looks like there is at least four different styles of numbers.

Thanks,

[wartimecollectables.com]

On 11/2/2017 at 7:06 AM, sampo said:

Hi Sorry,

 

Wrong picture in the second post, moderator feel free to remove the double message!

Here the reverse of the commander Legion of merit...

Impressive! That's only the third named Commander I've seen!

[wartimecollectables.com]

Legion of Merit Commander grade awarded to Dr. General Hans Speidel.  Army of the Federal Republic of Germany and former Wehrmacht General. During WWII Hans Speidel held commands on both the Eastern and Western. In April 1944 he was chief of staff to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel when he played a role in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Post war he joined the Bundeswehr becoming it's first Four Star General.  General Speidel, commanded NATO land forces in Central Europe from 1957 to 1963. He was recipient of both the Knights Cross and the Legion of Merit.
GENERAL ORDERS: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 12 (April 11, 1961)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit, in the Degree of Commander to General Dr. Hans Speidel, Army of the Federal Republic of Germany, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, from April 1957 to January 1961.
 

[Dave]

Andrew:

That is a really amazing piece!

Dave

[skypilot6670]

Beautiful with amazing history. Your lifesaving silver, 6th Corps Civil war and now this make a very impressive group.  My compliments.  Mike

[wartimecollectables.com]

Thanks! Wish I could keep it all but putting 'Civil War' on the shelf keeps me broke enough!

 

 

[3mxd]

For some reason Speidel's surname is miss-spelled on the medal (Spiedel) but correctly spelled in the citation.

[wartimecollectables.com]

1 hour ago, 3mxd said:

For some reason Speidel's surname is miss-spelled on the medal (Spiedel) but correctly spelled in the citation.

Not unusual to see misspellings, and with English ie and German ei being swapped it's understandable.

[Hermanus]

Good evening (at least here in Europe).

 

Is there a website or another source were one can find the General Orders of the post WW2 Legion of Merits? 

 

I own a named LoM issued to a Dutch Airforce Colonel. It was issued in 1977. It would be very nice to have the GO.

 

Regards 

Herman 

[JBFloyd]

Herman,

 

Department of the Army General Orders back through 1948 are at:  https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AGO.aspx

 

Jeff Floyd

[wartimecollectables.com]

On 6/22/2020 at 10:32 PM, wartimecollectables.com said:

Legion of Merit Commander grade awarded to Dr. General Hans Speidel.  Army of the Federal Republic of Germany and former Wehrmacht General. During WWII Hans Speidel held commands on both the Eastern and Western. In April 1944 he was chief of staff to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel when he played a role in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Post war he joined the Bundeswehr becoming it's first Four Star General.  General Speidel, commanded NATO land forces in Central Europe from 1957 to 1963. He was recipient of both the Knights Cross and the Legion of Merit.
GENERAL ORDERS: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 12 (April 11, 1961)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit, in the Degree of Commander to General Dr. Hans Speidel, Army of the Federal Republic of Germany, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, from April 1957 to January 1961.
 

Digging further into the history, Everything about the medal is correct EXCEPT the PQM misspelled the name and I BELIEVE the medal never got issued. It's from the Gen.  Gaynor collection auctioned a decade ago. I have learned Gen. Gaynor pulled strings and got to dive into the stock of unissued named pieces.

On 6/22/2020 at 10:32 PM, wartimecollectables.com said: