---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1121"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1121"
heading: "Legion of Merit: award"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1121"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 57 — Decorations and Awards"
---

# §1121. Legion of Merit: award


The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may award a decoration called the “Legion of Merit”, having suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees, to any member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) or of any friendly foreign nation who, after September 8, 1939, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services.


## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 88.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 1121 | 10:1408b(1). | July 20, 1942, ch. 508, § 2(1), 56 Stat. 662. |

The words “Government of the Philippines” are omitted as covered by the words “any friendly foreign nation”. The words “There is created”, “rules and”, and “the proclamation of an emergency by the President on” are omitted as surplusage.