Legion of Merit, Legionnaire, instituted in 1942

Breast Badge, 52×47 mm., gilt Bronze, one side enameled, on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the Great Seal of the United States. Between each star point, within the wreath, are crossed war arrows pointing outwards, representing armed protection to the Nation. The reverse of the five-pointed star is enameled in white, and the border is crimson. In the center, a disk for engraving the name of the recipient surrounded by the words “ANNUIT COEPTIS MDCCLXXXII”: a combination of the motto from the Great Seal, “He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings”, with the date for the first award of a US decoration, the Purple Heart. An outer scroll contains the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” on reverse “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” engraved in the center, original suspension ring and ribbon. An order in mint condition! I