On January 29, 1944, Boettiger received the Legion of Merit for meritorious service in the Allied Military Government. His stepson Curtis Roosevelt suggested in his memoirs that Boettiger was initially unhappy in his military service, was not given worthwhile tasks in North Africa before the invasion of Sicily, and thought the Army was trying to keep him out of trouble due to his family. Boettiger requested a transfer stateside in 1944, where he resumed his civilian position.