Certificate of Merit Medal The Certificate of Merit Medal was a military decoration of the United States Army that was issued between the years of 1905 and 1918 . The Certificate of Merit Medal replaced the much older Certificate of Merit which was authorized by the United States Congress on March 3 , 1847 . History . The system of military awards and decorations presented to members of the United States Military can trace it ' s lineage to the Badge of Military Merit . This military award , established by George Washington , was given in recognition of soldiers who displayed unusual gallantry or extraordinary fidelity . Awarded three times during the Revolutionary War , the Badge of Military Merit was not awarded again . Thus , for more than 50 years the United States Military had no official military decorations . Original Certificate of Merit . The original Certificate of Merit was authorized by an Act of Congress related to the expansion of the US Army during the Mexican - American War . The legislation authorized brevet s to non - commissioned officers and for privates who distinguished themselves in service " the President may in like manner grant him a certificate of merit , which shall entitle him to additional pay at the rate of two dollars per month . " This was a step forward in the recognition of the individual contributions of soldiers . The first certificates were only authorized for Privates and it was not until 1854 that the Certificate of Merit was awarded to NCOs the rank of Sergeant and above . The Certificate of Merit was never authorized for officers . It was issued to 545 soldiers during the Mexican - American War ( 1846 – 1848 ) . After the Mexican - American War the Certificate of Merit was discontinued . Reintroduced Certificate of Merit . Though the Army was of the position that it no longer had the authority to award the Certificate of Merit , commanders in the field continued to recommend soldiers for the award , but the Army did not act on the nominations . Following the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876 , the Certificate of Merit was reintroduced . In 1892 , the criteria for the Certificate of Merit was changed and now was presented to : " Any enlisted members of the Army for distinguished service whether in action or otherwise , of valuable character to the United States , as , for example , extraordinary exertion in the preservation of human life , or in the preservation of public property , or rescuing public property from destruction by fire or other - wise , or any hazardous service by which the Government is saved loss in men and material . " Several changes in rules governing awards of the Certificate of Merit evolved from experience in handling the recommendations for the Spanish American War , the early period of the Philippine Insurrection , and the China Relief Expedition . Changes to the regulations announced in March 1903 required a second eyewitness statement to support each recommendation for the award when the first statement was not from a commissioned officer and stated no award would be made when the subsequent service of the individual recommended had not been honorable . This latter rule had been followed since the revival of the award in 1878 , but was now explicitly stated . Other restrictions were announced in 1903 — a Certificate could be granted only if it were recommended by the regimental of corps commander as of the date of the recommendation , and the regimental or corps commander had to specifically recommend the award . These requirements delayed or precluded numerous awards including some to men who had left the service or been commissioned before the date of the regimental commanders ' recommendations , and men who had been originally recommended for Medals of Honor by regimental commanders . Certificate of Merit Medal . In 1905 , a medal was created for those holding a Certificate of Merit and called the Certificate of Merit Medal . This medal was authorized for wear on a United States military uniform . It was always worn following the Medal of Honor . The first recipient of the Certificate of Merit medal was First Lt . William Baker , who had received an original Certificate of Merit as a Corporal during the Spanish - American War ( 1898 ) . Conversion . The Certificate of Merit Medal was declared obsolete on July 19 , 1918 . Those holding the Certificate of Merit Medal could exchange their medal for the newly created Distinguished Service Medal . In 1934 , Congress changed the regulation allowing the conversion of the medal to the Distinguished Service Cross , including those converted to the Distinguished Service Medal . Appearance . The medal is bronze , 1 . 25 inches in diameter . The obverse depicts an eagle facing left , with its wings partially spread . The eagle is surrounded by the inscription " VIRTUTIS ET AUDACIAE MONUMENTUM ET PRAEMIUM " ( " A memorial and reward of courage and boldness " ) . The reverse of the medal bears the word , " FOR MERIT " surrounded by an oak wreath of two branches , the stems joined at the bottom by a bow . Around the edge in relief are the words , " UNITED STATES ARMY " at the top and thirteen stars below . The suspension and service ribbon of the Certificate of Merit Medal is red , white and blue . It has two stripes of blue at the edges with equal stripes of white . A wide central stripe of red is bisected by a thin stripe of white .