The three Americans to receive the French Legion of Honor medal. Where would this go on the two service-member's bar, if at all?

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:21:03 -0400

There's already good threads going about the guys themselves, so it'd be best to stick to those for discussing them. But I was wondering where a US military member would wear this ribbon on their bar, or if they would at all? Does anyone know?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 23 at 2015 9:29 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:29:09 -0400

SN Greg Wright It would go as a foreign award above the nametag in the Army, not sure for the other branches.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 9:29 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:29:56 -0400

I've been searching and there isn't much precedence for this so it may be determined after the fact of how to wear it.

Sometimes is seems foreign medals are only worn ceremonially.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 23 at 2015 9:35 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:35:18 -0400

Last. Think of it like the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces

Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces are the military awards including decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the U.S. military. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to display outwardly the highlights of a service member's career.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 23 at 2015 9:41 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:41:46 -0400

They deserve medals... God bless them for their actions

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 10:14 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:14:19 -0400

As a medal with a ribbon that has been previously awarded to US service members, there is no mystery where it goes. It goes on the wearers left side as the last ribbon in order or precedence, as do all foreign awards that have a ribbon that are authorized for wear.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Aug 23 at 2015 10:21 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:21:41 -0400

For the AF, below all US awards on the left side(like the Saudi, Kuwaiti, and NATO for example) since we don't wear any awards on the right like the Army.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 23 at 2015 10:32 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:32:59 -0400

SN Greg Wright I don't know if it helps --a cross of gallantry from Vietnam goes under the NDSM.

Response by SGT Aaron Barbee made Aug 23 at 2015 11:18 PM

SGT Aaron Barbee — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:18:29 -0400

AR 600-8-22, Chapter 9, Section V, para. 9-27 covers authorization for wear of foreign decorations (at least for Army.) Appendix E lists authorized decorations by country.
AR 670-1, Chapter 22, paras 22-4 and 22-10 cover placement, the regulation refers to DA PAM 670-1 for details, which are in Chapter 22, para. 22-5, sub-para. g of the pamphlet.

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p670_1.pdf

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 24 at 2015 1:30 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 01:30:02 -0400

I spent my final 24 years never getting an answer to where to put the New Zealand Special Service Medal so I pray it doesn't take much "clustering" to figure this one out this time.

Response by CPT Russell Pitre made Aug 24 at 2015 3:40 AM

CPT Russell Pitre — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 03:40:49 -0400

I would wear it like the Medal of Honor, around the neck. I am sure they are just about the only ones with it in the Military today.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 24 at 2015 7:15 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 07:15:44 -0400

SN Greg Wright As far as I know, other than foreign jump wings, you are not allowed to wear foreign awards.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Aug 24 at 2015 7:47 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 07:47:15 -0400

My question for those of you on Active Duty or have access to apd.army.mil or the other services equivalent - Why don't you LOOK IT UP? If you are an E-4 or below, maybe I could understand, E-5 and above - What is your problem?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 8:48 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 08:48:17 -0400

If authorized it would be worn in order of precedence as defined in current guidance ....i remember it being as simple as if it was authorized you wore it after similar American awards

But to be honest I also remember being told hell no you can't wear foreign medals in uniform...I know Kuwait tried to award a medal to folks and folks we told they could not wear it.

So best answer I would say is pose for the pic for the newspaper....enjoy the short lived fame.....wear it to weddings and church if you want.....but check with with local awards and decs office for wear guidance or hell even promotion point guidance.

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Aug 24 at 2015 9:42 AM

SFC Douglas Duckett — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 09:42:12 -0400

These "Warriors" deserve everything they can get. I would love to run across them at a bar, just to have the pleasure of buying them a round.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 10:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 10:45:20 -0400

I would say yes, because it was for valorous actions and not just as a camping medal or ribbon.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 24 at 2015 11:20 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:20:38 -0400

It requires Service Secretary approval to wear a foreign award. They all go below the lowest US awards, if authorized...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 24 at 2015 12:23 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:23:19 -0400

For one thing it's a civilian decoration not a military decoration. In order for them to wear it on their uniform they must have permission from their branch.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 24 at 2015 12:26 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:26:17 -0400

Great questions but the answers will take some time to come out. The question I have is does receiving those awards disqualify the Service Members from receiving something from their Chain of the Command? For example, what if their Commander wants to put them in for the Soldiers Medal, would the foreign award disqualify them from getting it?

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 24 at 2015 12:26 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:26:54 -0400

I believe they earned the Soldiers Medal (and Air Force equivalent) for their actions. They clearly risked their lives in this situation, especially the actions of Airman First Class Spencer Stone. For the Army, they can wear one foreign badge.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 24 at 2015 12:27 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:27:03 -0400

This was asked earlier, but the Legion of Honor is an allowed "Foreign Award." In this case it would be a personal award (as opposed to a Campaign medal). For order of precedence it comes last after all other US Awards. We recently had several US Airmen awarded it for the Lakenheath crash indecent involving a French pilot.

As for awards from the US side, they will most likely be acknowledged by their respective chains with either the Soldier's Medal or the Airman's Medal as they are most apt for the act. "If" the perpetrator is found to be linked to terrorism, it is "possible" a Purple Heart may also come about. For the Civilian, I think the Presidential Medal of Freedom (or Similar) would be likely.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 12:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:42:55 -0400

They can submit a request for permission to wear the Legion of Honour on their uniform. Considering the high-profile and positive nature of this event, it will likely be approved. Audie Murphy was also recognized with the LOH. I expect the Soldiers Medal and Airmans Medal will be forthcoming.

Response by SSG Scott Burk made Aug 24 at 2015 5:58 PM

SSG Scott Burk — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:58:54 -0400

I think they should get the Soldier's Medal and the Airman's Medal. This act meets the criteria.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Aug 24 at 2015 6:33 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 18:33:11 -0400

If things have not changed, DOD has to approve the wearing of the award and it would go after US decorations and ahead of State decorations. I'm not sure where it would stand in order, maybe alphabetical, I know ROK awards come ahead of RVN awards and O comes ahead of V in the alphabet. BUT that could mean it goes in order earned, too.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Aug 24 at 2015 11:34 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:34:22 -0400

Foreign awards generally go at the end of the rack. 670-1 22–4. Order of precedence by category of medal
The following list indicates the order of precedence, by category, when medals from two or more categories are worn at the same time:
a. U.S. military decorations.
b. U.S. unit awards.
c. U.S. nonmilitary decorations.
d. U.S. service (campaign) medals, and service and training ribbons.
e. U.S. Merchant Marine awards.
f. U.S. nonmilitary unit awards.
g. Foreign military decorations.
h. Foreign unit awards.
i. Non-U.S. service awards.
j. State awards for ARNG Soldiers

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 25 at 2015 10:37 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:37:29 -0400

Correction it was 4 Americans, the first one is the one that snatched the AK from the shooter and was shot by the shooter who also had a pistol, but his actions made it possible for the second American to choke him while the other two Americans jump in and beat the shooter.

Response by SSG David Dickson made Aug 25 at 2015 2:26 PM

SSG David Dickson — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:26:24 -0400

I'm not sure if the specific award is wearable on the bar (Rack), but foreign awards are worn beneath US awards.

Response by MSgt Danny Hope made Aug 25 at 2015 2:56 PM

MSgt Danny Hope — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:56:21 -0400

Foreign decorations go lower than U.S. decorations...it will be down around the same approximate position as the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Response by PO1 Henry Sherrill made Aug 25 at 2015 3:22 PM

PO1 Henry Sherrill — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:22:04 -0400

It would go below the lowest American decoration.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Aug 25 at 2015 8:52 PM

SPC William Weedman — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 20:52:20 -0400

Since it is obvious from various press releases that the Legion of Honor will be authorized (on the bottom as many have posted) and these men will be awarded the Airmans & Soldiers Medals I wonder if the Guardsman's home state will jump in an award him a medal as well? I believe nearly every state has a heroism medal that can be awarded. I served in the KYARNG and there is a "Kentucky National Guard Medal for Valor" which has been awarded only rarely.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 25 at 2015 9:00 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 21:00:28 -0400

Of course service members are allowed to wear foreign decorations. Allow me to provide an example. Every Vietnam veteran I ever met wears a foreign decoration, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device. The Vietnam Service Medal with campaign stars is the US award. The VCM is a decoration bestowed by the South Vietnamese government (before it ceased to exist). I also have a Vietnamese Honor Medal 1st Class. For that one I had to apply to DA for permission to wear it. It is located following all US issued decorations. It also appears on my DD214.

Response by LCDR Jeffery Dixon made Aug 26 at 2015 3:21 PM

LCDR Jeffery Dixon — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:21:27 -0400

Does belong between RVN Civil Action Legion and the WWII French Croix de Guerre??

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Aug 26 at 2015 3:34 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:34:48 -0400

To the Right of the overseas ribbon . It is a foreign award. I think it would even go to the right of the NATO Ribbon.

Response by LCDR Jeffery Dixon made Aug 27 at 2015 1:07 PM

LCDR Jeffery Dixon — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:07:02 -0400

We already have the WWII French Croix de Guerre, why not. We have Vietnam Civil Action Legion how is this different. If earned, deserves to be worn.

Response by TSgt Michael Burke made Aug 27 at 2015 7:47 PM

TSgt Michael Burke — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:47:11 -0400

Corrispoding service standard dress and appearance regulation should do it. Everything is in writing somewhere!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Mar 25 at 2016 5:45 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 05:45:33 -0400

Do a little home work. Look at your Navy regs, it's spelled out. I'm sure you can access it online. These little things, if you are always given the answers you'll never know how to help others when you get promoted. If you've tried to help yourself and can't get it, then ask and we'll help you.