The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the seven uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

The Legion of Merit is fifth in the order of precedence of U.S. Military awards and is below the Silver Star Medal and above the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medals in precedence. In contemporary use in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Legion of Merit is typically awarded to Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force General Officers and Colonels, and Navy and Coast Guard Flag Officers and Captains occupying senior command or very senior staff positions in their respective services. It may also be awarded to officers of lesser rank and to very senior enlisted personnel, but these instances are less frequent and circumstances vary by branch of service.

Authority to award the Legion of Merit is reserved for general officers and flag officers in pay grade O-9 (e.g., Lieutenant General and Vice Admiral) and above, civilian Department of Defense personnel at assistant service secretary or Assistant Secretary of Defense level and above, or equivalent civilian personnel with the Department of Homeland Security with direct oversight of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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This award arrived in the mail a couple of months after my retirement. It was delayed because it had to be signed off by a 3-Star or above. The award recommendation was approved by the hospital command at WBAMC and then sent from El Paso to San Antonio for approval by the US Army Medical Command. From there, it had to be sent to Washington, DC, for final approval, since it carries the signature of Lieutenant General Alcide Lanoue, who was not only Commander, MEDCOM, but also the US Army Surgeon General at that time. I had already moved the family back to California and started a new job, so I never wore it on my uniform. Even though I never had a chance to wear it, I am very appreciative of the fact that my Hospital Command thought enough of me and the quality of my service to put me in for this award, and that the Army Medical Command approved it.