The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.
The Legion of Merit (Commander degree) is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor), and the only United States military decoration that may be issued in degrees (much like an order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit), although the degrees including a neck ribbon are only awarded to non-U.S. nationals.
The Legion of Merit is seventh in the order of precedence of all U.S. military awards and is worn after the Defense Superior Service Medal and before the Distinguished Flying Cross.[8] In contemporary use in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Legion of Merit is typically awarded to Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force general officers and colonels, and Navy and Coast Guard flag officers and captains occupying senior command or very senior staff positions in their respective services. It may also be awarded to officers of lesser rank, senior warrant officers (typically in command positions at the rank of chief warrant officer 5), and to very senior enlisted personnel (typically in the rank of command sergeant major and sergeant major of the Army in the Army, fleet master chief petty officer and master chief petty officer of the Navy in the Navy, command chief master sergeant and chief master sergeant of the Air Force in the Air Force, command chief master sergeant and senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force in the Space Force, and sergeant major of the Marine Corps in the Marine Corps), but these instances are less frequent, typically by exception, and the circumstances vary by branch of service.
SURNAME
Kauffman
FORENAME
Draper Laurence
UNIT
U.S.N.R. UDT-5 (C.O.)
RANK
Lieutenant Commander
NUMBER
0-117673/110
AWARD
Navy Cross (2nd)
PLACE
Saipan, Marianas 1944
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Washington, D.C.
born 4.8.1911 San Diego, California
son of RAdm James Laurence...
SURNAMEBeem FORENAMEDonald UNITU.S.N. Seal Team 1 or 2 RANKPetty Officer Second Class NUMBER AWARDLegion of Merit,Bronze Star PLACESouth Vietnam ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONson of Truman and Ruby Beem
graduated Jerome High School 1966
attended College of Southern Idaho
U.S.N. 1968
BUD/S Class 54...
SURNAME
Alexander
FORENAME
Donovan
UNIT
5 SF Group
RANK
nco
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V device
PLACE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
US Army 26 years
SF 25 years
served Gulf War, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq
retired as CWO 3
SURNAME
Wagner
FORENAME
Robert Kay
UNIT
U.S.N. Seal Team 1
RANK
Storekeeper First Class
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit with V device,Bronze Star with V device
PLACE
South Vietnam 1968
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAMEBevans FORENAMEGlen UNIT5 SF Group (Mobile Guerrilla Force) RANKSergeant First Class NUMBER AWARDSilver Star,Legion of Merit,Bronze Star (x 2) PLACESouth Vietnam 1967 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION5 SF Group 1967
SF Training Group,Fort Bragg 1967
SF Recruiter,Fort Ord,California 1968
5 SF...
SURNAME
Meadows
FORENAME
Richard J. (Dick)
UNIT
5 SF Group + 5 SF Group (MACV-SOG-CCC) (RT Iowa)
RANK
Master Sergeant + Captain
NUMBER
13164437 + 0-5344796
AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star(x2), Bronze Star with V device, Air Medal, Legion of Merit
PLACE
South...
SURNAME
Beckwith
FORENAME
Charles Alvin (Charlie)
UNIT
5 SF Group (C.O.,Project Delta)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross,Silver Star with oak leaf cluster,Legion of Merit,Bronze Star
PLACE
South Vietnam 1965-66
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 22.1.1929...
SURNAME
Ortiz
FORENAME
Peter Julien
UNIT
U.S.M.C. OSS Mission Union II
RANK
Major
NUMBER
0-12779
AWARD
Navy Cross (x 2), Legion of Merit with combat V, Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur (Fr), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (GB)
PLACE
France 1944
ADDITIONAL...
SURNAME
Quamo
FORENAME
George
UNIT
5 SF Group (MACV-SOG-CCN) (CO FOB 3)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
0-55328806
AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V device with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak...
SURNAME
Robinson
FORENAME
Ricky Lee
UNIT
10 SF Group (Company A,2 Bn)
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit
PLACE
Iraq 1994
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Barclay
FORENAME
Paul Neil
UNIT
10 SF Group (Company A,2 Bn)
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit
PLACE
Iraq 1994
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Kittleson
FORENAME
Galen C.
UNIT
6 SF Group (Company B) + 5th SF Group
RANK
Master Sergeant + Sergeant Major
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit, Silver Star
PLACE
North Vietnam (Son Tay) 1970 (SS) 1978 (LofM)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from St Ansgar,Iowa
born 14.8.1924 near...
SURNAME
Anderson
FORENAME
Franklin W.
UNIT
U.S.N. Seal Team 1
RANK
Lieutenant + Lieutenant Commander
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit with "V" device,Silver Star,Bronze Star with "V"device
PLACE
South Vietnam 1964-68
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
native of Pagosa Springs,Colorado
born...
SURNAME
Stack
FORENAME
Michael Boyd
UNIT
5 SF Group (Company C 2 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant Major
NUMBER
AWARD
Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star
PLACE
Iraq 2004 (SStar)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Kisling
FORENAME
Daniel Leon
UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit,Bronze Star
PLACE
Afghanistan 2003
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Frampton
FORENAME
Gregory Michael
UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit,Bronze Star
PLACE
Afghanistan 2003
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Gibbons
FORENAME
Thomas Joseph
UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
RANK
Chief Warrant Officer Third Class
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit,Bronze Star
PLACE
Afghanistan 2003
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
O'Steen
FORENAME
Mark Steven
UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
RANK
Chief Warrant Officer Third Class
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit,Bronze Star
PLACE
Afghanistan 2003
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
killed - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Hunter
FORENAME
John Russell
UNIT
1 Bn (HQ - Assistant S3)
RANK
First Lieutenant
NUMBER
AWARD
Silver Star,Legion of Merit
PLACE
Panama 1989
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Horrigan
FORENAME
Robert Mark
UNIT
7 SF Group (1 Bn)
RANK
Master Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Legion of Merit,Bronze Star with "V" device
PLACE
Iraq 2005
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
holder of previous Bronze Star
KIA - see Roll of Honour