LEGION of MERIT--Showcase

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detail from AR 600-8-22

1–38. U.S. awards to foreign military personnel

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LOM degrees

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the Executive Order 9260 Legion of Merit and EO 10600

 

at: The American Presidency Project

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=58838

 

 

at: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/c...rder/09260.html

 

 

at: Wikisource

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_10600

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unfinished LOM Commander

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next step at production

[Teamski]

unfinished LOM Commander

 

 

Now where did you get that? A pretty unique piece if I do say so!

 

-Ski

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Army LOM certificate

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Air Force LOM certificate

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LOM case WWII

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What do you say about the ribbon, why is the device so small ?

[Adam R]

Here is a WWII era USN/USMC LOM group that just sold on Ebay for $382.00. It looks to be a WWII USN/USMC Bronze Star. I found it to be puzzling that there was no WWII era Campaign Medal in the group. Even if it were a top set, it should still contain either the Pacfic or European Theatre Campaign Medal(s). Note the shorter drape and the small jump ring that is specific to WWII USN/USMC LOM's.

 

The WWII theater campaign medals were in very short supply even into the 1950s. It's not uncommon to see a bar mounted Navy group missing some campaign medals to which the bar's owner was obviously entitled. It was simply a case of the medals not being available at the time the group was put on on a bar mount.

[Adam R]

Here's a USMC group with a Legion of Merit, which isn't seen too often. It's a WWII era Army silver planchet type, some of which were apparently borrowed from the Army by the Navy. (I have one other in a USN group.)

 

This group belonged to John A. McAlister, who received the LoM and Purple Heart for Korea. The SS and BS were for WWII. Details on the LoM to follow.

[Adam R]

Here's the engraving on the reverse of the LoM. The other decorations are all un-named as issued.

[Adam R]

The citation for Mcalister's LoM, for service as the XO of the First Marines, First Marine Division in Korea.

[Adam R]

McAlister as a full colonel, wearing ribbon bars for the Silver Star with second award gold star, Legion of Merit with V, Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart and Navy Presidential Unit Citation. It's interesting that he's chosen not to wear the ribbons for his campaign and service medals, but this matches the way that the full size medals are mounted. Also strange that he didn't put the "V"s on the the ribbons of the full size medals. But this is exactly the way it was when I got the group.

[Adam R]

Here's a Navy LoM with V and gold star for second award. Navy double award for WWII are fairly rare. The LoM and BS are both un-named but the identity of the recipient is known based on the rim number of the Yangtze Service Medal.

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Following information taken from The Insitute of Heraldy (TIOH)

 

(the last info at first)

 

Michael

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next

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LOM Chief Commander

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LOM Commander

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LOM Officer

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LOM Legionnaire

[Hobza]

From my WW2 collection..

[Ricardo]

Hi Folks,

 

The first recipient of this medal in any degree was a Brazilian General in 1942!!

 

Name: Brigadier General Amaro Soares Bittencourt - Brazilian Army.

 

Info from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Merit

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[ROY222]

A scan of what appears to be a Legion of Merit lapel pin is below along with a WWII PH lapel pin for size comparison.

 

The lapel pin screws on. No visable markings. I don't know what type of LOM it was for. Chief Commander comes to mind since it looks like the medal/badge.