# List of recipients of the Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a decoration of the United States and is awarded to foreign military personnel in four grades and to U.S. military personnel without distinction of degree. The following are notable recipients within the award.

## Chief Commander

| # | Nationality | Office/Position | Rank | Name | Force | Date | Comments |
| 1. | UK | | Lieutenant-General | Sir Kenneth Anderson, KCB, MC | British Armed Forces | June 18, 1943 | |
| 2. | Republic of China | Chairman | Generalissimo | Chiang Kai-shek | Chinese Armed Forces | July 1943 | |
| 3. | Republic of China | Commander of the 200th Division of the National Revolutionary Army | Lieutenant-General | Tai An-lan (Dai Anlan) | Chinese Armed Forces | 1943 | In command of 200th Division, Chinese Expeditionary Force (Burma). KIA on May 26, 1942, in Burma. |
| 4. | UK | GOC-in-C, Eighth Army | General | Sir Bernard Montgomery, KCB, DSO | British Armed Forces | August 6, 1943 | Later Field Marshal |
| 5. | UK | Air C-in-C Mediterranean Air Command | Air Chief Marshal | Sir Arthur Tedder, GCB | Royal Air Force | August 27, 1943 | |
| 6. | Soviet Union | Chief of the Air Force of the Red Army | Chief Marshal Of Aviation | Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov | Soviet Air Forces | June 22, 1944 | |
| 7. | Soviet Union | Chief of the General Staff | Marshal of the Soviet Union | Aleksandr Vasilevsky | Soviet Army | 1944 | |
| 8. | UK | Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron | Rear-Admiral | Sir Victor Crutchley, VC, KCB, DSC | Royal Australian Naval Squadron | September 1944 | For exceptionally meritorious conduct 1942–44 in command of Task Force 44 in the Pacific. |
| 9. | UK | Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Bomber Command | Air Marshal | Arthur Harris, OBE, AFC | Royal Air Force | October 17, 1944 | Known as "Bomber" Harris; he was the only major British commander who refused to receive a peerage after World War II (in protest in support of his men). He instituted "area bombing" of German cities. |
| 10. | UK | King | Commander-in-Chief (Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal, Marshal of the Royal Air Force) | George VI | British Armed Forces | 1945 | |
| 11. | UK | First Sea Lord | Admiral of the Fleet | The 1st Baron Cunningham of Hyndhope, Bt, KT, GCB, DSO** | Royal Navy | | |
| 12. | UK | | Admiral | Sir John Cunningham, KCB, MVO | Royal Navy | | For gallant and distinguished service during the invasion operations in Northern Italy and the South of France. |
| 13. | UK | | Acting Air Marshal | Sir Arthur Coningham, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC | Royal Air Force | | |
| 14. | Romania | King | Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of Romania | King Michael I | Romanian Armed Forces | 1945 | "Rendered exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the cause of the Allied Nations in the struggle against Hitlerite Germany. In July and August, 1944, his Nation, under the dominance of a dictatorial regime over which the King had no control, have allied herself with the Germany aggressors, he, King Mihai I, succeeded in giving purpose, direction and inspiration to the theretofore uncoordinated internal forces of opposition to the ruling dictator. In culmination of his efforts, on 23 August 1944, although his capitol was still dominated by Germany troops, he personally, on his own initiative, and in complete disregard for his own safety, gave the signal for a coup d'etat by ordering his palace guards to arrest the dictator and his chief ministers." |
| 15. | Poland | Commander-in-Chief Polish Armed Forces in the East | Marshal | Michał Rola-Żymierski | Polish Armed Forces | 1945 | |
| 16. | Soviet Union | Military Governor of the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany | Marshal of the Soviet Union | Georgy Zhukov | Soviet Army | 1945 | |
| 17. | UK | Naval Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Naval Expeditionary Force | Admiral | Sir Bertram Ramsay, KCB, KBE, MVO | Royal Navy | January 15, 1945 | For gallant and distinguished service whilst in command of the invasion operations on Normandy. |
| 18. | Iraq | Crown Prince | Commander-In-Chief | 'Abd al-Ilah | Iraqi Armed Forces | June 1, 1945 | |
| 19. | UK | Flag Officer Commanding, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, British Pacific Fleet and Second in Command, British Pacific Fleet | Vice Admiral | Sir Philip Vian, KCB, KBE, DSO** | Royal Navy | July 17, 1945 | |
| 20. | France | Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic | Brigadier general | Charles de Gaulle | French Armed Forces | August 24, 1945 | |
| 21. | UK | Commander-in-Chief British Air Forces of Occupation | Air Chief Marshal | Sir William Douglas, KCB, MC, DFC | Royal Air Force | August 28, 1945 | made Commander of the Legion 28 July 1944 |
| 22. | UK | Flag Officer, Liaison to the United States Navy in Europe | Vice Admiral | Sir Geoffrey Blake, KCB, DSO | Royal Navy | November 6, 1945 | |
| 23. | Norway | Crown Prince | Chief of Defence of Norway | Crown Prince Olav | Norwegian Armed Forces | November 23, 1945 | "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from August 1944 to July 1945." |
| 24. | Soviet Union | Commander, Transbaikal-Amur Military District | Marshal of the Soviet Union | Rodion Malinovsky | Soviet Army | 1946 | |
| 25. | Soviet Union | Commander, Northern Group of Forces | Marshal of the Soviet Union | Konstantin Rokossovsky | Soviet Army | 1946 | |
| 26. | Nepal | Commanding General | Commanding General | Sir Baber Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GBE, KCSI, KCIE | Nepali Army | 1946 | Brother of Prime Minister Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana who was decorated in 1948. |
| 28. | Saudi Arabia | King | Commander-in-Chief | Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud | Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia | February 18, 1947 | |
| 29. | Mexico | President | Commander-in-Chief | Miguel Alemán Valdés | Mexican Armed Forces | November 26, 1947 | |
| 30. | Brazil | President | General (Commander-in-Chief) | Eurico Gaspar Dutra | Brazilian Armed Forces | October 7, 1947 | |
| 31. | Iran | Shahanshah | Commander-in-Chief | Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi | Iranian Armed Forces | November 26, 1947 | |
| 32. | Portugal | Minister of War | | Fernando Santos Costa | Portuguese Armed Forces | March 11, 1948 | |
| 33. | Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Minister of the Army, Navy and Air Force | General | Dragoljub Mihailović | Yugoslav Royal Army | March 29, 1948 | "General Mihailovich and his forces, although lacking adequate supplies, and fighting under extreme hardships, contributed materially to the allied cause, and were instrumental in obtaining a final Allied Victory." Recommended by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The award was kept secret until 1966. |
| 34. | UK | | Field Marshal | Sir William Slim, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC | British Armed Forces | 1948 | |
| 35. | Italy | Chief of Army Staff | General | Luigi Efisio Marras | Italian Army | January 4, 1949 | |
| 36. | Nepal | Maharaja, Prime Minister | Commander-in-Chief (Field Marshal) | Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GBE, GCIE | Royal Nepalese Army | April 14, 1949 | Brother of Sir Baber Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana who was decorated in 1946. |
| 37. | Venezuela | President | Commander-in-Chief | Rómulo Gallegos | Venezuelan Armed Forces | April 14, 1949 | |
| 38. | Cuba | President | Commander-in-Chief | Carlos Prío Socarrás | Cuban Armed Forces | April 14, 1949 | |
| 39. | India | Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief | General | Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, OBE | Indian Army | November 10, 1949 | Later Field Marshal |
| 40. | France | Chief of the Army Staff | Army General | Georges Revers | French Army | December 30, 1949 | |
| 41. | Greece | Commander-in-Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces | Field Marshal | Alexandros Papagos | Greek Armed Forces | December 30, 1949 | |
| 42. | Greece | Chief of the General Staff | General | Dimitrios Yiadzis | Greek Army | December 30, 1949 | |
| 43. | Argentina | Minister of National Defense | Divisional General | Humberto Sosa Molina | Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic | May 24, 1950 | |
| 44. | Mexico | Secretary of National Defense | Lieutenant General | Gilberto Limón | Mexican Armed Forces | February 14, 1951 | |
| 45. | France | President | Commander-in-Chief | Vincent Auriol | French Armed Forces | April 4, 1951 | |
| 46. | Ethiopia | Emperor | Commander-in-Chief | Haile Selassie | Ethiopian Armed Forces | August 9, 1951 | |
| 47. | Ecuador | President | Commander-in-Chief | Galo Plaza | Ecuadorian Armed Forces | September 25, 1951 | |
| 48. | Costa Rica | President | N/A | Otilio Ulate Blanco | N/A | October 24, 1951 | |
| 49. | Australia | C-in-C British Commonwealth Forces Korea | Lieutenant-General | Sir Horace Robertson, KBE, DSO | Australian Defence Force | January 15, 1952 | |
| 50. | Portugal | Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces | General | Aníbal César Valdez de Passos e Sousa [pt] | Portuguese Armed Forces | March 13, 1952 | |
| 51. | Netherlands | Queen | Commander-in-chief | Queen Juliana I of the Netherlands | Netherlands Armed Forces | April 23, 1952 | Was Commander-in-chief of the Netherlands Armed Forces; Invested with the Order “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1948 to 1952”. |
| 52. | Australia | Prime Minister | | The Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC | Commonwealth of Australia | May 29, 1952 | |
| 53. | France | | Marshal of France | Jean de Lattre de Tassigny | French Armed Forces | August 6, 1952 | Posthumous. |
| 54. | Brazil | | Major General | Cyro Espirito Santo Cardoso | Brazilian Army | October 4, 1952 | |
| 55. | Iraq | King | Commander-In-Chief | Faisal II of Iraq | Iraqi Armed Forces | November 28, 1952 | |
| 56. | Peru | President | Commander-In-Chief | Manuel Odria | Peruvian Armed Forces | August 4, 1953 | |
| 57. | Greece | King | Commander-in-Chief | King Paul I | Greek Armed Forces | November 3, 1953 | |
| 58. | Pakistan | Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army | General | Ayub Khan | Pakistan Army | November 3, 1953 | |
| 59. | Turkey | President | Commander-in-Chief | Celâl Bayar | Turkish Armed Forces | March 8, 1954 | |
| 60. | Venezuela | President | Commander-in-Chief | Marcos Pérez Jiménez | Venezuelan Army | November 12, 1954 | |
| 61. | Thailand | Minister of Defence | Field Marshal | Luang Plaek Pibulsonggram | Royal Thai Army | May 2, 1955 | Supreme Commander |
| 62. | India | Chief of the Army Staff | General | Satyawant Mallana Srinagesh | Indian Army | September 2, 1955 | Chief of the Army Staff |
| 63. | Thailand | King | Commander-in-Chief | Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) | Royal Thai Armed Forces | June 28, 1960 | Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces |
| 64. | Libya | Chief of the Army Staff | Major General | Senussi Letaiwish | Royal Libyan Army | June 5, 1961 | 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 Major General Senussi Letaiwish, Libyan Army, "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States", from October 1958 to June 1961. |
| 65. | Thailand | Chief of Defence Forces | Field Marshal | Thanom Kittikachorn | Royal Thai Army | 1967 | |
| 66. | South Korea | | General | Kim Yong-Bae | Republic of Korea Armed Forces | February 14, 1968 | For service April 1965 to March 1966. The initial award of Commander degree was revoked and replaced with Chief Commander. |
| 67. | South Korea | Minister of National Defense | | Kim Sung-Eun | Republic of Korea Armed Forces | December 9, 1968 | For service March 1963 to June 1966. |
| 68. | Turkey | President | Commander-in-Chief | Kenan Evren | Turkish Armed Forces | June 27, 1988 | |
| 69. | UK | Commander British Forces Middle East | General | Sir Peter de la Billière, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC* | British Armed Forces | 8 June 1993 | |
| 70. | Colombia | Chief of Staff | General | Freddy Padilla de Leon | Colombian Armed Forces | 2008 | After leading the Operation Jaque into success. |
| 71. | Kuwait | Emir | Commander-in-Chief | Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | Kuwait Military Forces | September 18, 2020 | |
| 72. | India | Prime Minister | | Narendra Modi | India | December 21, 2020 | "President Donald Trump presented the Legion of Merit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in elevating the U.S.-India strategic partnership. Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu accepted the medal on behalf of Prime Minister Modi.” –NSA Robert C. O’Brien |
| 73. | Australia | Prime Minister | | Scott Morrison | Commonwealth of Australia | December 21, 2020 | “President @realDonaldTrump awarded the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his leadership in addressing global challenges and promoting collective security. Ambassador @A_Sinodinos accepted the medal on behalf of PM Morrison.” – NSA Robert C. O’Brien |
| 74. | Japan | Former Prime Minister | | Shinzo Abe | Japan Self-Defense Forces | December 21, 2020 | “President @realDonaldTrump awarded the Legion of Merit to Japanese Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his leadership in addressing global challenges and promoting collective security. Ambassador Shinsuke Sugiyama accepted the medal on behalf of Former PM Abe.” – NSA Robert C. O’Brien |
| 75. | Morocco | King | Commander-in-Chief | Mohammed VI | Royal Moroccan Armed Forces | January 15, 2021 | "His vision and personal courage — including his decision to resume ties with the State of Israel — have positively reshaped the landscape of the Middle East and North Africa and ushered in a new era of security and prosperity for both our countries and the world," a White House statement said. |
| 76. | Bahrain | King | Commander-in-Chief | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa | Bahrain Defence Force | January 19, 2021 | |

## Commander

| Nationality | Rank | Name | Force | Date | Comments |
| Brazil | Brigadier General | Alexandre Zacharias de Assumpção | Brazilian Army | 1942 | General of Brigade Alexandre Zacharias de Assumpcao, Brazilian Army, was cited for service as Commanding General of the 8th Military Region, Brazil. The 8th Military Region was headquartered in Belem, which was a major support base for US aircraft transiting to North Africa and the Mediterranean. The Army made 31 awards of the Legion of Merit, commander grade, to Brazilian officers during World War II. |
| Brazil | Brigadier General | Amaro Soares Bittencourt | Brazilian Army | 1942 | First recipient of this medal in any degree. |
| Australia | Rear Admiral | Harold Farncomb, CB, DSO, MVO, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | 1942 | Commanded various International military units. |
| Canada | Major General | George Pearkes VC PC CC CB DSO MC CD | Canadian Army | 1942 | General Officer Commanding in Chief Pacific Command (Canadian Army) |
| United Kingdom | Major General | Leslie Burtonshaw Nicholls, CBE | British Army, Chief Signals Officer, Allied Force Headquarters, | July 1, 1943 | For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States and the Allied Nations. Assigned to Allied Force Headquarters 1 July 1943 when the planning for the Sicilan Campaign was in progress, and with great problems of communications and supply facing him, Major General Nicholls, with his sound knowledge and tireless energy, quickly overcame all difficulties. During the Sicilan and Italian Campaigns Major General Nicholls displayed the highest organizating ability, ensuring vital communications without which to many successful battles could not have been fought. |
| United Kingdom | Wing Commander | Guy Penrose Gibson, VC, DSO*, DFC* | Royal Air Force | December 3, 1943 | WWII leader of the Dams raid (Operation Chastise) in 1943. |
| France | Brigadier General | Paul Devinck | French Army | 1943 | |
| France | Lieutenant General | Louis Koeltz | French Army | 1943 | Commander of XIXth Army Corps |
| France | Brigadier General | François Le Clercq | French Army | 1943 | |
| Soviet Union | Colonel General Of Aviation | Alexander Repin | Soviet Air Force | June 22, 1944 | President Roosevelt presented the award for further delivery to Marshal Stalin on February 11, 1945, at the Yalta Conference. |
| Soviet Union | Lieutenant General | Sarkis Martirosyan | Soviet Army | July 26, 1944 | |
| Poland | Lieutenant General | Władysław Anders | 2nd Polish Corps | August 1, 1944 | |
| France | Major General | Paul Bergeron | French Army | 1944 | |
| France | General | Étienne Beynet | French Army | 1944 | Head of the French Military Mission to Washington |
| France | General | Georges Catroux | French Army | 1944 | Governor General of French Algeria |
| France | General (later Maréchal de France) | Jean de Lattre de Tassigny | French Army | 1944 | Commander of the French Forces in Italy |
| France | Lieutenant General | Henry Martin | French Army | 1944 | Commander of the French Forces in Corsica |
| France | Brigadier General | Louis Rivet | French Army | 1944 | Former Head of French Military Intelligence |
| United Kingdom | Air Marshal | Sir Francis John Linnell, KBE, CB | Royal Air Force | January 30, 1945 | Deputy Commander-in-Chief (RAF MED ME) Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, 29 February 1944 – 29 June 1944. Awarded posthumously by Franklin D. Roosevelt. |
| United Kingdom | Admiral | Sir Gerald Charles Dickens, KCVO, CB, CMG | Royal Navy | 1945 | WWII Commander |
| United Kingdom | Air Commodore | Andrew James Wray Geddes, CB, DSO, MVO, | Royal Air Force | 1945 | Responsible for the planning of Operations Manna and Chowhound |
| United Kingdom | Air vice-marshal | Frank Inglis | Royal Air Force | December 3, 1947 | |
| United Kingdom | Air vice-marshal | Charles Edmonds | Royal Air Force | December 3, 1947 | |
| United Kingdom | Air vice-marshal | Arthur Sanders | Royal Air Force | December 3, 1947 | |
| Canada | Air vice-marshal | George Owen Johnson | Royal Canadian Air Force | December 3, 1947 | |
| United Kingdom | Major General | Sir Miles Graham, KBE, CB, MC | British Army | April 24, 1945 | Responsible for organising and coordinating activities in connection with the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. |
| New Zealand | Lieutenant General | Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg, VC, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO*** | 2nd New Zealand Division, New Zealand Military Forces | August 2, 1945 | |
| Mexico | Colonel | Antonio Cárdenas Rodríguez | Mexican Air Force | 1945 | Commander of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force, which participated in the Battle of Luzon |
| Czechoslovakia | General | Sergěj Ingr | Czechoslovak Armed Forces | 1945 | Minister of National Defense of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile 1940-44 |
| South Africa | Major General | William Henry Evered Poole, CB, CBE, DSO | 6th South African Armored Division | | Unit is part of the 5th US Army during the Italian Campaign in World War II |
| Czechoslovakia | General | Ludvík Svoboda | Czechoslovak Army | 1946 | Minister of Defence of Czechoslovakia |
| UK | Major General | Sir Donald Banks, KCB, DSO, MC, TD | Petroleum Warfare Department | January 24, 1946 | For his role in the production and manufacture of an improved American flamethrower fuel, and other work of Petroleum Warfare Department employed during the liberation of Europe which "contributed substantially to the successful prosecution of the war". |
| Canada | Brigadier General | John Ernest Genet, CBE MC | Canadian Army | March 30, 1946 | Chief Signal Officer, First Canadian Army. |
| Canada | Major General | Georges Vanier, DSO MC* | Canadian Army | 1946 | Canadian representative to the United Nations and Ambassador to France, later Governor General of Canada. |
| Canada | Rear Admiral | Leonard W. Murray, CB CBE | Canadian Northwest Atlantic | 1946 | Architect of the Battle of the Atlantic. |
| Sweden | Lieutenant General | Bengt Nordenskiöld | Swedish Air Force | July 9, 1946 | Chief of the Air Force |
| New Zealand | Air Chief Marshal | Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC*, DFC | Royal Air Force | June 27, 1947 | WWII commander during the Battle of Britain and later Allied Air Commander South East Asia |
| India | General | Rajendrasinhji Jadeja, DSO | Indian Army | 1946 | Chief of the Army Staff |
| Sweden | Commander 2nd Class | Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland | Swedish Navy | June 4, 1948 | On June 4, 1948, President Harry S. Truman awarded Prince Bertil of Sweden the Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander, "In exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the U.S." |
| Philippines | General | Alfredo M. Santos | Armed Forces of the Philippines | | |
| Netherlands | General Lieutenant admiral | Prince Bernhard, Prince Consort of the Netherlands | Netherlands Armed Forces | | Husband of the Commander-in-Chief of the Netherlands Armed Forces; Was a General in the Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and the Royal Netherlands Air Force and was a Lieutenant admiral in the Royal Netherlands Navy. Appointed an Honorary Air commodore in the Royal Air Force in 1941 and later appointed to the honorary rank of Air marshal by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 September 1964. Was also an Honorary Air commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force since 1948. |
| Thailand | General | Sarit Thanarat | Royal Thai Army | September 14, 1954 | |
| Sweden | Rear Admiral | Moje Östberg | Swedish Navy | January 1955 | Naval attaché in Washington, D.C. from 1951 to 1954. |
| Thailand | Marshal of the Air Force | Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee | Royal Thai Air Force | May 17, 1955 | |
| Cuba | Colonel | Ramon Barquin | Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba | 1955 | Military Attaché to the United States, Mexico, and Canada; Cuba Delegate to the Inter-American Defense Board; Vice-director and Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander of the Inter-American Defense Board. For his organizing and coordinating activities to eliminate coups d'état in the Americas. Barquin later became the last Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and de facto Head of State of the Republic of Cuba in January 1959, before the Revolutionary government established by Fidel Castro. Barquin served as Chief of the Army and was later named Ambassador-at-Large to Europe in April 1959 and resigned in 1960. |
| Thailand | Police General | Phao Siyanon | Royal Thai Police | September 2, 1955 | |
| Japan | General | Keizō Hayashi | Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) | November 10, 1955 | Chairman of the Joint Staff Council, JSDF. First Japanese recipient of this medal. |
| Thailand | Field Marshal | Phin Choonhavan | Royal Thai Army | May 4, 1957 | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army |
| Thailand | Major General | Wan Waithayakon | Royal Thai Army | January 3, 1958 | |
| Sweden | Lieutenant General | Thord Bonde | Swedish Army | December 4, 1959 | Chief of the Army. For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, from July 1943 to September 1945 and October 1957 to March 1958. |
| Thailand | Air Chief Marshal | Dawee Chullasapya | Royal Thai Air Force | July 27, 1967 | |
| Netherlands | Major General | Willem J.I. van Breukelen | Netherlands Armed Forces | 1962 | |
| Thailand | General | Praphas Charusathien | Royal Thai Force | 1962 | |
| Sweden | Vice Admiral | Åke Lindemalm | Swedish Navy | 1963 | Chief of the Navy. Awarded by the United States Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth. |
| Germany | Lieutenant-General | Ulrich de Maizière | Bundeswehr | March 9, 1965 | |
| Sweden | General | Torsten Rapp | Swedish Air Force | April 12, 1965 | Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. "General Rapp has shown outstanding and exemplary leadership, and that he has meritoriously contributed to the friendly relations between Sweden and the United States." Awarded by General Earle Wheeler. |
| Jordan | Lieutenant-General | Amer Khammash | Jordanian Armed Forces | April 3, 1969 | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces from 9 October 1967 till 30 June 1969. Awarded by President Richard Nixon for Exceptionally Meritorious Conduct in the Performance of Outstanding Services throughout his entire military career with the Arab Army. |
| Greece | General | Odysseus Aggelis | Greek Armed Forces | April 5, 1971 | Chief of the Greek Armed Forces from April 1967 till August 1973. Awarded by order of the US President Richard Nixon for Exceptionally Meritorious Conduct in the Performance of Outstanding Services from December 1968 to March 1971. |
| Thailand | Admiral | Sangad Chaloryu | Chief of Defence Forces | 1975 |
| India | Admiral | Jal Cursetji | Indian Navy | 1978 | Chief of the Naval Staff |
| Sweden | General | Lennart Ljung | Swedish Army | 1980 | Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. Awarded by General David C. Jones. |
| Sudan | Major General | Mohamed Mirgani Eltahir | Sudanese Air Force | August 11, 1981 | Chief of Sudanese Air Force Major Gen. Mohamed was conferred with the US Legion of Merit Medal for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from August 1978 to August 1981. |
| Poland | Lieutenant-General | Stefan Grot-Rowecki | Polish Armed Forces (Armia Krajowa) | August 9, 1984 | Awarded by Ronald Reagan posthumously forty years and one week after his death at the hands of the Gestapo. |
| Thailand | General | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | Royal Thai Army | January 15, 1988 | Chief of Defence Forces |
| Thailand | Air Chief Marshal | Kaset Rojananil | Royal Thai Air Force | June 1, 1990June 1, 1990 | Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force |
| Philippines | General | Fidel Ramos | Armed Forces of the Philippines | 1990 | |
| Bangladesh | Brigadier General | Abdul Muneem Mansur Ahmed | Bangladesh Army | January 16, 1991 | The first Bangladeshi General to receive this award for his outstanding service as the Defense Attaché in the Bangladesh Embassy, United States |
| France | Lieutenant General | Michel Roquejeoffre | French Army | July 14, 1991 | |
| Israel | General | Ehud Barak | Israeli Defense Forces | 1992 | Later became Israeli Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001 |
| Argentina | Teniente General | Martín Balza | Argentine Army | 1994 | Chief of Argentine Armed Forces 1991 to 1999 |
| Canada | General | Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, OC, CMM, CH, CD | Canadian Forces | 1995 | In 1999, he was made a Companion of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II. He is the former Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces and he is the Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning since November 1995 for the Northern Ireland Peace Process. |
| Colombia | General | I. M. Elias Nino Herrera | Colombian Marine Corps | | For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commandant of the Colombian Marine Corps. General Nino's cooperation and understanding have been a significant contribution to the mutual friendship between Colombia and the United States. |
| United Kingdom | Lieutenant General | Michael Walker, KCB, CMG, CBE | Implementation Force in Bosnia | May 13, 1997 | Former Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) in the United Kingdom |
| Ecuador | General de Ejército (General of the Army) | Paco Moncayo | Ecuadorian Armed Forces | January 1998 | For of his exceptionally superior performance as Chief of the Armed Forces Joint Command and his contribution to Ecuadorian history, politics and democracy. |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | Donald Chalmers, AO, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | 1998 | Chief of Navy |
| Australia | General | Sir Phillip Bennett, AC, KBE, DSO John Baker, AC, DSM Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC | Australian Defence Force | | Chiefs of the Defence Force |
| Germany | General | Adolf Heusinger Klaus Naumann Wolfgang Schneiderhan Carl-Hubertus von Butler | Bundeswehr | | |
| France | General | Edgard de Larminat Alain de Boissieu Vincent Desportes Jean-Louis Georgelin | | | |
| Thailand | General | Mongkol Amphonpisit | Royal Thai Army | December 1, 1999 | Chief of Defence Forces |
| Thailand | General | Surayud Chulanont | Royal Thai Army | December 20, 2000 | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army |
| Thailand | Air Chief Marshal | Sanan Thuathip | Royal Thai Air Force | February 8, 2001 | Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | David Shackleton AO, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | 2001 | Chief of Navy |
| Malaysia | General | Md Hashim bin Hussein | Royal Malaysia Army | 2001 | Chief of Army |
| Germany | General | Wolfgang Schneiderhan | Bundeswehr | | |
| Turkey | General | Hilmi Özkök | Turkish Armed Forces | 2002 | |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | Chris Ritchie AO, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | | Chief of Navy |
| Israel | Major General | Yedidya Ya'ari | Israeli Navy | December 4, 2003 | Commander in Chief, Israel Navy |
| Canada | Lieutenant General | Charles Bouchard OC CMM MSC CD | Deputy Commander NORAD | 2004 | Commander of NATO forces enforcing "No Fly Zone" Libya 2011 |
| Pakistan | Admiral | Shahid Karimullah | Pakistan Navy | July 21, 2004 | For his steadfast support of American-Pakistan cooperation in regional maritime, security affairs, demonstrated superb resolve and unwavering dedication to the Global War on terrorism |
| Australia | Lieutenant General | Peter Leahy AC | Australian Army | 2004 | Chief of Army |
| Argentina | Admiral | Jorge Godoy | Argentine Navy | October 1, 2004 | Chief of Staff, Argentine Navy |
| Japan | General | Yoshimitsu Tsumagari | Japan Air Self-Defense Force | October 19, 2004 | Chief of Staff, Air Self Defense Force |
| Turkey | Commander-in-Chief | Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt | Turkish Armed Forces | December 12, 2005 | |
| Bangladesh | Lieutenant General | Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury | Bangladesh Army | 2005 | Former Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh) |
| Italy | Admiral | Giampaolo Di Paola | Italian Navy | | Incumbent Minister of Defence in the Monti Cabinet |
| Pakistan | Admiral | Afzal Tahir | Pakistan Navy | January 23, 2006 | Legion of Merit in recognition of his efforts in conducting maritime security operations and strengthening of cooperation between the two navies in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. |
| Malaysia | Admiral | Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor | Malaysian Armed Forces | 2006 | |
| Japan | General | Tadashi Yoshida | Japan Air Self-Defense Force | October 24, 2006 | Chief of Staff, Air Self Defense Force |
| Canada | Lieutenant General | Andrew Leslie | Canadian Army | December 8, 2006 | |
| Russia | Admiral of the Fleet | Vladimir Vasilyevich Masorin | Russian Navy | August 24, 2007 | The first Russian recipient for meritorious conduct of the Russian Federation Navy to increase cooperation and interoperability with the U.S. Navy and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from September 2005 to August 2007. |
| Japan | General | Ryoichi Oriki | Ground Self-Defense Force | October 1, 2007 | Chief of Staff |
| Pakistan | Lt General | Tariq Khan | Pakistani Army | December 9, 2007 | Legion of Merit for meritorious services as a liaison officer at CENTCOM during Operations Enduring Freedom (December 9, 2007). |
| Poland | General | Franciszek Gągor | Polish Armed Forces | May 22, 2008 | For exceptionally meritorious service as the Chief of Staff of the Polish Armed Forces from February 2006 to May 2008. |
| Israel | Lieutenant General Hebrew: Rav Aluf | Gabi Ashkenazi | Israeli Defence Forces | July 24, 2008 | Chief of Staff – Israeli Defence Forces |
| South Africa | Vice Admiral | Refiloe Johannes Mudimu | South African Navy | 2008 | For role in strengthening ties with US Navy |
| Japan | General | Toshio Tamogami | Air Self-Defense Force | August 19, 2008 | |
| Pakistan | General | Ashfaq Parvez Kayani | Pakistani Army | January 1, 2009 | |
| Australia | Lieutenant General | Ken Gillespie AC, DSC, CSM | Australian Army | 2009 | Chief of Army |
| Sweden | General | Sverker Göranson | Swedish Armed Forces | 2010 | Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. For dedication and professionalism as supreme commander led the continuing transformation of the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish international operations. |
| Japan | General | Kenichiro Hokazono | Japan Air Self-Defense Force | January 22, 2010 | Chief of Staff, Air Self Defense Force |
| Iraq | General | Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari | Iraqi Army | January 7, 2010 | |
| Pakistan | Admiral | Noman Bashir | Pakistan Navy | March 18, 2010 | For distinguished service and strengthening American-Pakistani relations. Also, for his role in establishing and strengthening the Pakistan Navy and U.S. Navy relations in Arabian Sea. |
| Sri Lanka | Major General | Milinda Peiris RWP, RSP, USP | Sri Lanka Army | | For service as military attaché to the Sri Lankan Embassy in the United States |
| South Africa | General | Godfrey Ngwenya | South African Army | May 20, 2010 | for his leadership during a time of transition in the South African military and his country's support of vital NATO peacekeeping operations in Sudan, Burundi and Congo |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | Russ Crane AO, CSM, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | | Chief of Navy |
| Pakistan | Air Chief Marshal | Rao Qamar Suleman | Pakistan Air Force | August 5, 2010 | For the performance of outstanding services March 2009 to August 2010. |
| Japan | General | Yoshifumi Hibako | Ground Self-Defense Force | June 8, 2011 | Chief of Staff |
| Austria | General | Edmund Entacher | Austrian Armed Forces | November 22, 2011 | Chief of Staff |
| Thailand | Air Chief Marshal | Itthaporn Subhawong | Royal Thai Air Force | December 21, 2011 | Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force |
| Israel | Major General | Ido Nehoshtan | Israeli Air Force | April 15, 2012 | Chief of IAF |
| Thailand | Admiral | Surasak Runroengrom | Royal Thai Navy | April 19, 2012 | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy |
| Estonia | General | Ants Laaneots | Estonian Defence Forces | July 4, 2012 | Former Commander-in-Chief |
| Australia | Lieutenant General | David Morrison AO | Australian Army | 2012 | Chief of Army |
| Australia | General | David Hurley AC, DSC | Australian Army | 2012 | Chief of the Defence Force |
| Canada | Colonel | Todd Balfe | Royal Canadian Air Force | June 5, 2012 | For his exceptional devotion to duty, and his significant contributions both to the maintenance of North American air security as well as to the close relationship between United States and Canadian Forces in NORAD. |
| Hungary | Colonel General | Tibor Benkő | Hungarian Ground Forces | September 4, 2012 | Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces |
| Sweden | Major General | Berndt Grundevik | Swedish Army | September 2012 29 April 2015 | Inspector of the Swedish Army Head of Swedish delegation to NNSC |
| Nepal | Brigadier General | Shamsher Thakurathi | Nepal Army | January 29, 2013 | |
| Italy | Lieutenant General | Claudio Graziano | Italian Army | February 11, 2013 | Chief of the General Staff of the Italian Army |
| Canada | Vice Admiral | Paul Maddison CMM MSM CD | Royal Canadian Navy | April 26, 2013 | Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | Ray Griggs AO, CSC, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | May 2013 | Chief of Navy |
| Thailand | General | Prayut Chan-o-cha | Royal Thai Army | September 20, 2013 | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army |
| India | General | Bikram Singh | Indian Army | December 5, 2013 | Chief of the Army Staff |
| Denmark | General | Knud Bartels | Danish Army | October 2014 | During his visit at the Pentagon General Bartels was awarded the Legion of Merit by General Dempsey in recognition of his exceptional conduct while serving as Chief of Defence of the Danish Armed Forces (2009–2011) and as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. |
| Pakistan | General | Raheel Sharif | Pakistan Army | November 19, 2014 | Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on November 19, 2014, was conferred with the US Legion of Merit Medal in recognition of his brave leadership and efforts to ensure peace in the region. |
| Turkey | General | Hulusi Akar | Turkish Armed Forces | January 27, 2015 | For his outstanding contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). |
| Tunisia | General | Ismail Fathalli | Tunisian Army | April 13, 2015 | Chief of Army Staff General Ismail Fathalli was presented with the United States Legion of Merit. |
| Canada | Vice Admiral | Mark Norman CMM CD | Royal Canadian Navy | April 21, 2015 | VAdm Mark G. Norman received the award in honor of his leadership of the Royal Canadian Navy's successful anti-drug operations in and around Central America. |
| Georgia | Lieutenant General | Devi Chankotadze | Georgian Armed Forces | May 2, 2015 | Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces |
| Bangladesh | Brigadier General | Mohammad Abdul Moeen | Bangladesh Army | July 31, 2015 | Brigadier General Moeen received this prestigious medal for his exceptional meritorious service as the Bangladesh Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attache to the United States, from May 2010 to July 2013. Brigadier General Moeen facilitated cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh Armies in numerous events through United States Pacific Command, to include those focused on peacekeeping operations, disaster management and counter terrorism. |
| Israel | Lieutenant General | Gadi Eizenkot | Israel Defense Forces | August 2016 | Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces |
| New Zealand | Lieutenant General | Timothy James Keating, CNZM | New Zealand Army | November 1, 2016 | Chief of Defence Force |
| Pakistan | Admiral | Muhammad Zakaullah | Pakistan Navy | March 17, 2017 | Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah was presented with the United States Legion of Merit. |
| Australia | Lieutenant General | Angus Campbell, AO, DSC | Australian Army | June 13, 2017 | Chief of Army |
| Jordan | Lieutenant General | Mahmoud Freihat | Jordanian Armed Forces | July 2017 | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces |
| Kuwait | Major General | Khalid Saleh Al-Sabah | Kuwaiti Armed Forces | April 2017 | Commander, Kuwait Land Forces |
| Israel | Major General | Amir Eshel | Israeli Air Force | August 2017 | On change of command of the Israeli Air Force, awarded as outgoing commander. |
| UK | Major General | Robert Magowan, CB, CBE | Royal Marines | October 10, 2017 | Third Sea Lord |
| Czech Republic | General | Petr Pavel | Army of the Czech Republic | March 8, 2018 | Presented by General Joseph Dunford for service as Chairman of NATO Military Committee. |
| Pakistan | Air Chief Marshal | Sohail Aman | Pakistan Air Force | March 12, 2018 | Chief of Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman was presented with the United States Legion of Merit. |
| Canada | Lieutenant General | Michael Hood, CMM, CD | Royal Canadian Air Force | May 4, 2018 | Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force |
| UK | General | Sir Nicholas Carter, KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen | British Army | May 14, 2018 | Chief of the General Staff |
| Lithuania | Lieutenant General | Jonas Vytautas Žukas | Lithuanian Armed Forces | August 15, 2018 | Chief of Defence of Lithuanian Armed Forces |
| India | General | Dalbir Singh Suhag | Indian Army | August 17, 2018 | Chief of the Army Staff |
| Georgia | Major General | Vladimer Chachibaia | Georgian Armed Forces | August 29, 2018 | Chief of General Staff of Georgian Armed Forces |
| UK | Air Chief Marshal | Sir Stuart Peach, GBE, KCB, ADC, DL | Royal Air Force | October 2018 | Chairman of the NATO Military Committee |
| Spain | General | Fernando Alejandre Martínez | Spanish Army | October 18, 2018 | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Estonia | General | Riho Terras | Estonian Defence Forces | November 13, 2018 | Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces |
| Mexico | Secretary of National Defense | Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda | Mexican Armed Forces | November 16, 2018 | Presented to Cienfuegos for his "extraordinary contributions in strengthening the relationships between the militaries of Mexico and the United States." |
| Japan | Admiral | Katsutoshi Kawano | Japan Self-Defense Forces(JSDF) | March 21, 2019 | Chief of Staff, Joint Staff |
| Australia | Air Marshal | Leo Davies, AO, CSC | Royal Australian Air Force | April 12, 2019 | Chief of Air Force (Australia) |
| UK | Admiral | Sir Philip Jones, KCB, ADC, DL | Royal Navy | May 1, 2019 | First Sea Lord |
| Netherlands | Brigadier General | Jeff Mac Mootry | Royal Netherlands Marine Corps | June 4, 2019 | Commandant Royal Netherlands Marine Corps |
| Thailand | General | Pornpipat Benyasri | Royal Thai Army | June 18, 2019 | Chief of Defence Forces |
| Iraq | General | Othman al-Ghanmi | Iraqi Armed Forces | July 30, 2019 | Chief of the General Staff during the War in Iraq (2013-2017), for his role in the Coalition to defeat Daesh |
| Indonesia | General | Andika Perkasa | Indonesian Army | February 3, 2020 | General Andika Perkasa was conferred the award for his initiative in strengthening relations between the Indonesian Army and US Army and also for his contribution for the security stability in the Indo-Pacific region. As per September 2021, he is the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army. |
| Singapore | Major General | Mervyn Tan | Republic of Singapore Air Force | February 11, 2020 | Major General Mervyn Tan (Ret) was conferred the award for strengthening defence relations between the United States and Singapore. He is now currently serving as the Deputy Secretary of Technology in MINDEF. |
| Canada | Vice Admiral | Maurice Frank Ronald "Ron" Lloyd Ron Lloyd | Royal Canadian Navy | February 29, 2020 | Commander Royal Canadian Navy (Ret) |
| Thailand | Air Chief Marshal | Johm Rungsawang | | September 16, 2020 | |
| Colombia | Admiral | Evelio Ramírez Gáfaro | Colombian Navy | September 17, 2020 | Commander-in-chief of the Navy. For exceptionally meritorious service as Commander, Colombian Navy, from December 2018 to August 2020. Admiral Ramirez led the Colombian Navy and Coast Guard efforts to interdict illicit drug shipments destined for the United States, significantly contributing to Hemispheric security. Admiral Ramírez's superior effort, outstanding leadership, and personal initiative reflect great credit upon himself, the Colombian Navy, and his country. |
| Australia | Vice Admiral | Michael Noonan, AO, RAN | Royal Australian Navy | March 28, 2022 | Chief of Navy |
| Thailand | General | Narongpan Jitkaewthae | Royal Thai Army | May 22, 2022 | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army |
| Ecuador | Rear Admiral | Brúmel Vázquez Bermúdez | Ecuadorian Navy | December 6, 2022 | Chief of Navy. Exceptionally meritorious service as Commanding General of the Ecuadorian Navy, from May 2021 to July 2022. He led the Ecuadorian Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps efforts to advance the partnership with the United States. His superior effort, outstanding leadership, and personal initiative reflect great credit upon himself, the Ecuadorian Navy, and his country. |
| Sweden | Major General | Karl Engelbrektson | Swedish Army | December 19, 2022 | Chief of Army. Awarded by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General James C. McConville |
| Singapore | Major General | Kelvin Khong | Republic of Singapore Air Force | May 10, 2023 | Major General Kelvin Khong was conferred the award in recognition for his meritorious service as Chief of Air Force since 2019, in deepening long-standing bilateral ties between the United States Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, and his contributions to enhance interoperability and trust between the two Air Forces through professional exchanges and participation in exercises. |
| Singapore | Rear Admiral | Aaron Beng | Republic of Singapore Navy | May 26, 2023 | Rear Admiral Aaron Beng was presented the medal in recognition of his leadership and contributions as Chief of Navy, where he had deepened the longstanding bilateral ties between the United States Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy in spite of the pandemic, and contributed to the quick resumption of engagements to enhance interoperability between the two navies. |
| Singapore | Lieutenant General (RET) | Melvyn Ong | Singapore Armed Forces | June 1, 2023 | Lieutenant General (RET) Melvyn Ong was presented the medal in recognition of his leadership and contributions as Chief of Defence Force, when he deepened longstanding bilateral ties between the US Military and Singapore Armed Forces. This included regular bilateral exchanges between both Armed Forces through professional engagements and participation in exercises. |
| United Kingdom | Admiral | Sir Tony Radakin, KCB ADC | Royal Navy | September 10, 2023 | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Thailand | General | Chalermpol Srisawat | Royal Thai Army | January 18, 2024 | Chief of Defence Forces |
| New Zealand | Air Marshal | Kevin Ronald Short, AO | Royal New Zealand Air Force | April 6, 2024 | Chief of Defence Force |
| Sweden | General | Micael Bydén | Swedish Armed Forces | May 1, 2024 | General Charles Q. Brown Jr. presented the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces General Micael Bydén the Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander. General Bydén was recognized for his visionary leadership in championing Sweden's accession to NATO and transforming the Swedish Armed Forces. |

## Officer

* At the beginning of the North African campaign, Brigadier General Lyman L. Lemnitzer accompanied Major General Mark Wayne Clark by submarine to North Africa. Upon arrival, about 60 officers were awarded the Legion of Merit and were among the first awarded the medal. By some misunderstanding as to the rules governing the awards, these 60 American officers were awarded the degree of Officer. According to Lemnitzer, President Roosevelt was quite annoyed but did not rescind the awards. These were the only U.S. officers (or service personnel of any rank) awarded the Legion of Merit with a degree.
* In 1943 Willem Jan Kruys received the Legion of Merit (Officer) in Australia as captain of the Dutch destroyer HMNS Tjerk Hiddes for the three rescue trips to Timor in December 1942 during which 1100 people were saved from the beaches of Timor under Japanese occupation. The certificate was signed by President Roosevelt personally. In 1960 Kruys received the Legion of Merit again when retired as vice-admiral of the Royal Dutch Navy, this time with gold star and combat V.
* In March 1945, Colonel Hsieh Mang, of the Chinese Army was awarded the Legion of Merit for his work with the First American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers".
* In 1945, Lieutenant Colonel William E. Fairbairn, a former British General Service Corps who transferred to United States as "officer in rent" to train SOE agents and later the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), for his achievements in training OSS personnel. Fairbairn eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel by the end of the war, and received the U.S. Legion of Merit (officer grade) at the specific request of "Wild Bill" Donovan, founder of the OSS. Known as the teacher of close combat fighting in Camp X and teaching defendu, a special forces close combat system. Following his instruction at Camp X, Fairbairn was rejoined by his pupil Col. Applegate to form the United States "School for Spies and Assassins", then called "Camp B", now known as Camp David. Not well known by the public because his techniques were often brutal, and were considered too dangerous to be widely publicly known. Some people considered him as a British agent in disguise and a prototype of Ian Fleming's character of James Bond. Fairbairn was also the teacher of Lt. Colonel Robert T. Frederick, the designer of Army Special Unit knife V-42 stiletto which was based on Fairbairn–Sykes commando knife. Fairbairn also a friend of Captain Dermot Michael "Pat" O'Neill, the First Special Service Force's close-combat instructor.
* In 1945, Colonel Movlid Visaitov, commander of the 255th Separate Chechen-Ingush Cavalry Regiment and the 28th Guards Regiment. Visaitov was the first Soviet officer to shake hands with General Bolling at the Elbe River.
* On 27 September 1945, General Alois Liška of the Czechoslovak Army under former U.S. command, was awarded by General Ernest N. Harmon in Prague
* Group Captain Harry Day, Senior Officer at numerous POW camps during World War II, and significantly helped American POWs endure the captivity, as well as organizing escape operations. He received the award on July 5, 1946.
* In 1946, Commodore Alfred Victor Knight of the Royal Australian Navy was awarded the commendation for honorary services. The citation described him as a 'forceful leader' who, by his 'splendid co-operation in the conduct of a vital training programme, aggressive determination and untiring energies ... contributed materially to combined large-scale operations'.
* On 3 September 1946, Vice Admiral Henry George Harry DeWolf CBE, DSO, DSC, CD of the Royal Canadian Navy was awarded the legion of Merit officer level for honorary services. The citation description "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while serving as Chief Staff Officer to Rear-Admiral G.C. Jones, RCN. He frequently conferred with Commander Task Force Twenty-four and his staff in connection with planning and the operational control of the surface forces under Commander Task Force Twenty-four. His excellent professional grasp of strategic and tactical situations, together with his intelligent and co-operative attitude, contributed materially to the success of operations conducted by Commander Task force Twenty-four."
* In 1947, Colonel Valentine Patrick Terrel Vivian head of counter-espionage, Section V, and Vice-Chief of the S.I.S. or MI6. The citation reads, as deputy director of a special British agency in the European Theater of Operations from January 1943 to June 1945, rendered exceptionally devoted and meritorious service to the Allied armies, by American forces in a special province of military operations, and continuing it through the long period of preparation for the Normandy invasion and during the march into Germany, Colonel Vivian made an outstanding contribution to Allied military and to the enemy's defeat.
* On 30 January 1948, Captain J. Alberto Sánchez López Commander-in-Chief of the Ecuadorian Navy, was awarded the legion of Merit officer level. The citation description "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from June 1944 to August 1945. He has made an essential contribution to Pan-American Solidarity in further strengthening the bond and understanding between the United States of America and Ecuador. Under his able guidance and direction, the Navy of Ecuador, cooperating with the Armed Forces of the United States, assisted in consolidating Western Hemispheric Defense during the critical period of the war."
* In 1948, then Brigadier General John Frederick Boyce Combe was made an Officer of the Legion for his contribution "to the over-all success Allied forces in Italy" during World War II.
* In 1948, Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera VSV, USP, Sri Lanka Air Force.
* In 1950 Air Commodore Leonard Birchall (Royal Canadian Air Force) was made an officer of the Legion for his life imperiling heroic actions as a Japanese POW in WWII: "His exploits became legendary throughout Japan and brought renewed faith and strength to many hundreds of ill and disheartened prisoners." – U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
* In 1953, 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 Officer to Major General [then Brigadier General] Ham Byong Sun, Republic of Korea Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 28 April 1951 to 3 April 1952.
* In 1953, Major General [then Brigadier General] Kim Chum Kon, Republic of Korea Army, was made an Officer of the Legion for service 25 October 1952 – 14 February 1953.
* For service 10 September 1952 – 27 April 1954, Brigadier General Shim On Bong of the Republic of Korea Army
* For service August 1953 – March 1955, Major General Chang Kuk Chang of the Republic of Korea Army
* In 1957, Colonel Stig Wennerström was made an Officer of the Legion for serving as an air attaché in Washington, D.C. from 1952 to 1957.
* In 1959, Major General Mian Ghulam Jilani was made an Officer of the Legion for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, from October 1952 to June 1955.
* In 1960 Major General Mian Hayaud Din was made an Officer of the Legion for his role as Chief of the Pakistan Military Mission to the United States from 1955 to 1960.
* In 1973 "by Direction of the President, Major General Liu Wan-Tsai, Chinese Air Force, [was] awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) for exceptionally meritorious service as Air Attache, Embassy of the Republic of China, Washington, D.C., from 4 April 1969 to 27 July 1972."
* In 1996, Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire of the Canadian Army was made an Officer of the Legion for his role as Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Rwanda during the civil war and subsequent genocide.
* On 18 December 1980 Major General Shlomo Inbar, Israel Army, was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the outstanding performance of duties as Defense and Armed Forces Attache, Embassy of Israel to the United States of America, from July 1977 to August 1980.
* In 2000, Lieutenant General Danfer G. Suarez was made an Officer of the Legion "Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as the Peruvian Air Attache from 1997 to 1998.
* In 2006, Lieutenant General Nick Houghton, British Army, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq."
* In 2007, Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fry, Royal Marines, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during coalition operations in Iraq.
* Lieutenant General Tariq Khan became the fourth Pakistani officer to receive the award for meritorious services as a liaison officer at CENTCOM during Operations Enduring Freedom (December 9, 2007).
* In 2008, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy Head of the Royal Air Force, for his part in Operation Telic / Operation Iraqi Freedom.
* Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, Royal Marines, "in recognition of meritorious, gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan".
* Major General Colin Boag, British Army, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq" (March 2008).
* Lieutenant General James Bucknall, British Army, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq" (July 2009).
* Major General Mohamed Elkeshky, Egyptian Army Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché to the United States. (2013).
* In 2011, Vice Admiral Tomohisa Takei, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, "as recognition for Takei's exceptional leadership and expertise in maturing and expanding the JMSDF and U.S. Navy partnership during his role as director of operations and plans department, JMSDF Maritime Staff Office from April 2008 to July 2010".
* In 2013, Lieutenant General Walter Souza Braga Netto, Brazilian Army, Military Attaché to the United States of America. "For exceptionally meritous conduct in the performance of outstanding services from March 2011 to May 2013.
* In 2014, Air Commodore David Best, United Kingdom Royal Air Force. "For exceptionally meritorious service as Director of Air Operations, International Security Assistance Force, from December 2010 to December 2011".
* In 2014, Major General Brett Cairns, Canadian Air Force, NORAD J3. "For exceptionally meritorious service as Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, from May 2005 to August 2008."
* In 2016, Brigadier General Paul Rutherford, Canadian Army, United States Central Command. "For exceptionally meritorious service as Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy Military to Military, Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from August 2013 to August 2015."
* in 2018, Commodore Alok Bhatnagar, NSM, Indian Navy. "For Exceptionally Meritorious Conduct in the Performance of Outstanding Service as the Indian Naval Attache to United States of America from August 2011 to December 2014.
* In 2018, Air Commodore A. P. T. Smith (UK).
* In 2018, Air Commodore Stephen Lushington (UK). For exceptionally meritorious service, NATO Forces, Afghanistan.
* In 2019, Brigadier General Suzanne Melotte, For exceptionally meritorious service NATO Forces, Afghanistan.
* In 2023, Brigadier General Anoop Shinghal, Sena Medal, (India). "For exceptionally meritorious service as Indian Defense and Military Attache to United States from 29 July 2019 to 17 Oct 2022".
* In 2023, Commodore Adrian C Fryer Royal Navy (UK). For exceptionally meritorious service and leadership as Deputy Commander and Commander, Combined Maritime Forces.

## Legionnaire

When the Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States, it is awarded without reference to degree. However, the medal and ribbon of the fourth degree (Legionnaire) are used for members of the Armed Forces of the United States.
The US Army and US Air Force do not authorize the "V" Device for the Legion of Merit. The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the United States Coast Guard do.
The first U.S. Armed Forces recipient of the Legion of Merit medal was World War II combat veteran Lieutenant, junior grade, Ann Bernatitus, U.S.N., one of the "Angels of Bataan" and the only U.S. Navy nurse to escape from Bataan and Corregidor during the war. She was also the first person authorized to wear the "V" Device with the award. Her medal is now housed at the Smithsonian Institution.
* Michael "Mick" Skinta, CWO4 "Gunner"
* Robert B. Abrams, 6 awards
* John Abizaid, 6 awards
* Frank Adamo
* Creighton W. Abrams
* Clayton Sinnott Adams
* James Bradshaw Adamson
* John R. Allen, 5 awards
* Robert S. Allen
* James F. Ponzo
* William Anderson (USN)
* Elma L. Asson
* Bernard L. Austin
* George Baker
* Michael A. Baker
* Eben Bartlett
* Roger de Bazelaire de Boucheporn
* Edward L. Beach Jr.
* Ann A. Bernatitus, with Combat "V"
* Beau Biden
* John Birch
* Deborah Birx
* William C. Bishop (May 1991, military intelligence, Master Sergeant)
* Guion Bluford
* George F. Bond, 3 awards
* Westray Battle Boyce, 2 awards
* John Boyd, 4 awards
* Omar N. Bradley
* Larry Buenafe (SgtMaj)
* William G. Bulling (Ordnance Corps, Chief Warrant Officer Four)
* Laurence E. Bunker
* Mark H. Buzby, 3 awards
* George S. Brown, 3 awards
* Gregory R. Bryant
* Larry B. Buenafe (Command SgtMaj)
* Richard E. Byrd, 2 awards
* George A. Cain (Chief Warrant Officer Four, USACIDC)
* Robert A. Caprara (Chief Warrant Officer Four, UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot)
* Scott Carpenter
* Maude E. Carraway
* John A. Carollo Citation for Legion of Merit awarded 1945. Army.
* Walter E. Carter Jr., 3 awards
* Claire Lee Chennault
* Llewellyn Chilson
* Mark Choate
* Joseph J. Clark, with Combat "V"
* Mark A. Clark (general)
* Mark W. Clark
* Vern Clark, 3 awards
* Mary E. Clarke
* William P.O. Clarke, 3 awards
* Herbert G. Claudius, USN, posthumous with Combat "V"
* Barry Ray Clayton
* Daniel L. Coberly [Wikidata]
* Helena Clearwater
* Jackie Cooper
* Richard LeRoy Cordes
* Charles H. Corlett
* Modesto Cartagena
* Chester V. Clifton
* Elmer Collings
* Robert W. Cone, 3 awards
* Thomas L. Constantino
* Carleton S. Coon
* William J. Crowe, 3 awards
* John H. Cushman, 3 awards
* Lyal A. Davidson, 2 awards
* Matthew K. Miller
* Philip S. Davidson, 6 awards
* Phillip Davidson, 3 awards
* Arthur C. Davis, 3 awards
* Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
* Ray Davis, 2 awards with Combat "V"
* Pete Dawkins
* George Everett "Bud" Day, 2 awards
* Michael E. DeBakey
* George H. Decker
* Ralph Van Deman
* John Holmes Dingle
* William Diver
* Michael Donoghue
* George Doundoulakis
* Sharon K.G. Dunbar
* Robert Vance Dunbar (Master Sergeant)
* David Douglas Duncanon
* Laurence Durlacher
* Joseph S. Edgar
* Herbert W. Ehrgott
* Dwight D. Eisenhower
* John S. D. Eisenhower
* Dick Ellis
* Edward Ellsberg
* Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
* Martin H. Foery
* Francis Fressanges
* Fred W. Friendly
* Lee W. Fulton
* Robert E. Galer
* Julius W. Gates
* Otto Glasser
* Nicholas Goodhart
* John F. Goodman, 2 awards
* Kevin H. Govern, 2 awards
* Herbert H. Goral, 2 awards
* Philip Graham
* David E. Grange Jr., 2 awards
* Philip H. Greene Jr., 4 awards
* Edward G. Grier Jr.
* James A. Grove
* Charles M. Gurganus, 2 awards
* David Hackworth, 4 awards
* Alexander Haig, 3 awards
* Robert G. Hale
* Haywood S. Hansell
* Matthew C. Harris, USAF, 2 awards
* John C. Harvey Jr., 5 awards
* John B. Hayes
* Paul Ramsey Hawley
* Robert T. Herres, 2 awards
* William R. Higgins
* Charles A. Hines, 2 awards
* Colonel William Hockensmith, USAF
* Russel L. Honoré, 5 awards
* Grace Hopper
* Edwin Hubble
* Thomas J. Hudner
* Kenneth W. Hunzeker, 2 awards
* Louis Iasiello, 2 awards
* Joseph R. Inge, 3 awards
* Michael J. Ingelido
* Ralph Ingersoll
* Stuart H. Ingersoll, 2 awards
* William E. Ingram Jr.
* Bobby Ray Inman
* Andrew P. Iosue, 3 awards
* Frederick Augustus Irving, 2 awards
* Stafford LeRoy Irwin, 2 awards
* Emerson C. Itschner, 4 awards
* Galen B. Jackman, 2 awards
* J. Adrian Jackson
* Kevin J. Jacobsen, 2 awards
* Charles H. Jacoby Jr.
* Lowell E. Jacoby, 2 awards
* James L. Jamerson, 2 awards
* Daniel James Jr.
* Daniel James III
* Frank B. James
* Larry D. James, 3 awards
* Earl Jaques Jr.
* Harry B. Jarrett, with Combat "V"
* Samuel Jaskilka
* David E. Jeremiah, 2 awards
* Norman Jewell
* Harold K. Johnson
* Leon W. Johnson
* David C. Jones
* Robert J. T. Joy
* John J. Kaising, 2 awards
* Danis Karabelen
* Frederick J. Karch, 3 awards, 2 with Combat "V"
* Claudia J. Kennedy
* Carlton W. Kent, 2 awards
* Young-Oak Kim, 2 awards
* John Kline, 4 awards
* Joseph Caldwell King
* Jeffrey A. Kruse, 3 awards
* Gary Lambert
* Kent Lambert
* Wayne W. Lambert
* James Benjamin Lampert
* Roland Everett Langford
* Julien J. LeBourgeois, 2 awards
* Lyman L. Lemnitzer, 2 awards (1 in degree of officer)
* Carroll LeTellier, 5 awards
* Scott Lingamfelter, 2 awards
* Kirk Lippold
* Emilio S. Liwanag
* Charles A. Lockwood
* Joe Louis
* Craig B. Luigart, 2 awards
* John A. Macready
* David D. Magnin, LTC
* Robert Magnus
* Thomas T. Matteson
* Bill Mauldin
* John McCain Jr., 3 awards
* John McCain III, 2 awards and Combat "V"
* Frederick G. McCollum (Provost Marshal, 82nd Airborne Division 1944)
* John P. McConnell, 4 awards
* Charles McGee, 2 awards
* Robert McGowan Littlejohn
* Daniel Christopher McKinnon
* Danny McKnight, 2 awards
* Joe McMoneagle
* Robert S. McNamara
* James F. McNulty
* Richard R. McNulty
* William A. McNulty
* Bill McRaven, 2 awards
* Charles L. Melson, 3 awards
* Wilfred C. Menard Jr.
* Edward C. Meyer, 3 awards
* Hal Moore
* William G. Moore Jr., 6 awards
* Thomas H. Moorer
* Jill Morgenthaler
* Samuel E. Morison
* Frank A. Morreale Sr.
* Michael Mullen, 6 awards
* Carl E. Mundy III, 2 awards
* Audie Murphy
* Dennis J. Murphy (2 awards)
* Florence K. Murray
* Richard Nations
* David Niven
* Eric T. Olson
* Merlin O'Neill
* Mark Anthony Ostbloom (Chief Warrant Officer Four)
* William Owens (admiral), 4 awards
* Susan Pamerleau
* Wilfred L. Painter, (USN Captain, CEC) 5 awards four with combat "V"
* Robert J. Papp Jr., 4 awards
* Theodore W. Parker, 2 awards
* Joseph Kline PaskVan II
* Randolph M. Pate, 2 awards with Combat "V"
* George S. Patton
* Elizabeth A. Pesut
* Joel M. Peterson
* David Petraeus
* Leroy A. Petry
* Samuel Perez Jr., 2 awards
* Arthur Blurton Plant
* Colin Powell, 2 awards
* L. Fletcher Prouty
* Chesty Puller, 2 awards with Combat "V"
* David E. Quantock, 3 awards
* Kevin M. Quinn
* William Wilson Quinn
* Donald W. Reynolds
* L. Scott Rice
* Hyman G. Rickover, 2 awards
* Paul E. Richter
* Matthew B. Ridgway, 2 awards
* Paul X. Rinn
* Thomas H. Robbins Jr., 2 awards
* Darryl Roberson, 3 awards
* Joseph John Rochefort
* MSG Alberto M. Rodriguez
* Bernard W. Rogers, 4 awards
* William C. Rogers III
* John Dale Ryan
* F. A. Sampson
* David Sarnoff
* Harold G. Schrier
* Raymond L. Shoemaker, 4 awards
* Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
* Benedict J. Semmes Jr., 2 awards
* James E. Service, 3 awards
* Thomas K. Shannon, 4 awards
* Walter L. Sharp
* John M. Shalikashvili, 3 awards
* Clay Shaw
* Henry Shelton
* David M. Shoup, 2 awards with Combat "V"
* Jacob L. Shuford, 5 awards
* Ivan L. Slavich Jr. 3 awards
* Gregory J. Slavonic, current Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserves
* Carl M. Smeigh Jr.
* John Calvin Smith
* Russell L. Smith, 2 awards, current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
* Dale Snodgrass, 3 awards
* Lawrence F. Snowden, 5 awards with Combat "V"
* EJ Snyder
* Oscar P. Snyder
* James G. Stavridis, 5 awards
* George Stevens
* Joseph D. Stewart
* James B. Stockdale
* Douglas M. Stone
* LTC Mark W. Stone
* Joseph C. Strasser 3 awards
* Lewis L. Strauss
* Jack C. Stultz, 2 awards
* Rosalie L. Swenson
* Gordon Bennett Tayloe
* Maxwell D. Taylor
* Charles W. Thomas (captain)
* Edward K. Thompson
* James D. Thurman, 4 awards
* Roy Thurman, 6 awards
* Maxwell Reid "Mad Max" Thurman
* William E. Thurman, 3 awards
* Strom Thurmond, 2 awards
* Joseph E. Tofalo
* Lauri Törni
* Katherine A. Towle
* Michael S. Tucker, 3 awards
* Stansfield Turner
* George Ray Tweed
* John Uberti
* James P. Ulm
* Henry G. Ulrich III, 5 awards
* Robin Umberg
* John Francis Uncles
* George V. Underwood Jr., 4 awards
* Ferdinand Thomas Unger, 5 awards
* Matt Urban
* Stephen Urban
* Leon L. Van Autreve, 3 awards
* Swede Vejtasa
* SFC Patrick B. Treffery
* John Vessey, 2 awards
* Jonas Vilhauer
* William von Zehle
* Dave Wallace
* Garry Walsh
* Patrick M. Walsh, 4 awards
* William "Billy" Waugh
* James S. Welch Jr.
* Mark Welsh, 2 awards
* Earle G. Wheeler
* Adriel N. Williams
* Cecil Charles Williams
* James A. Williams, 2 awards
* John Allen Williams
* Dean Winslow
* William Westmoreland
* Jerauld Wright, 2 awards
* William P. Yarborough, 4 awards
* James C. Yarbrough, 3 awards
* Donald Norton Yates
* Ronald W. Yates, 2 awards
* Walter H. Yates Jr., 2 awards
* Chuck Yeager, 2 awards
* John J. Yeosock, 2 awards
* David G. Young III, 2 awards
* Robert Nicholas Young
* Barton Kyle Yount
* Yu Jae-hung, 2 awards
* Ellis M. Zacharias, 3 awards
* Harold A. Zahl
* Melvin Zais, 3 awards
* George D. Zamka
* Peter Zanca, 2 awards
* Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari
* James A. Zimble, 3 awards
* John S. Tuohy
* Matthew A. Zimmerman
* Ronald J. Zlatoper
* Paul F. Zukunft
* Elmo Zumwalt
* Edwin A. Zundel, 3 awards
* Ralph Wise Zwicker, 2 awards
* SGT Ayman A. Hatkwa