The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may award a decoration called the “Medal for Merit”, having distinctive appurtenances and devices and only one degree, to any civilian of any nation prosecuting the war in existence on , under the joint declaration of the United Nations, as then constituted, or of any other friendly foreign nation, who, after , has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services. The Medal for Merit may be awarded to a civilian of a foreign nation but only for performing an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in the furtherance of the war efforts of the United Nations as then constituted.
Structure US Code
Subtitle A— General Military Law
CHAPTER 57— DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
§ 1121. Legion of Merit: award
§ 1122. Medal for Merit: award
§ 1123. Right to wear badges of military societies
§ 1124. Cash awards for disclosures, suggestions, inventions, and scientific achievements
§ 1124a. Cyber operations-peculiar awards
§ 1125. Recognition for accomplishments: award of trophies
§ 1126. Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution
§ 1127. Precedence of the award of the Purple Heart
§ 1128. Prisoner-of-war medal: issue
§ 1129. Purple Heart: members killed or wounded in action by friendly fire
§ 1129a. Purple Heart: members killed or wounded in attacks by foreign terrorist organizations
§ 1131. Purple Heart: limitation to members of the armed forces
§ 1133. Bronze Star: limitation on persons eligible to receive
§ 1134a. Medal of honor: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll
§ 1135. Replacement of military decorations
§ 1136. Honorable service requirement for award of military decorations