Army Meritorious Unit Citation

In August of 1944 the War Department established the Meritorious Service Plaque. Army personnel from units that received these Army decorations were allowed to wear a Meritorious Service Unit Insignia on their sleeve. Additional awards were indicated by gold Award Stars, and later a gold Numeral inside the wreath on the plaque. In May of 1947 the Army established the Meritorious Unit Commendation with a design more similar to other Army ribbons, and a display style that harmonized better with other Army awards. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the U.S. Army which is presented to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. The unit must show outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks in a manner that sets them above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant an individual the award of the Legion of Merit. These military ribbons may be worn by all unit members of a cited organization whether or not a member during the action sited, and is considered an individual decoration for persons who were unit members during the cited acts, even after they are no longer members of that unit. The order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals requires that the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation be worn just below the Army Valorous Unit Award, and just above the Army Superior Unit Award. A unit banner is also approved for display. The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation is generally available as Army ribbons, a lapel pins and a unit banner, and can be worn as traditional full size military ribbons and the sleek new ultra thin military ribbons that look so trim as mounted military medals.  Awards were indicated by gold Award Stars, and later a gold Numeral inside the wreath on the plaque. Personnel from units that received these military medal awards were allowed to wear a Meritorious Service Unit Insignia on their sleeve. In May of 1947 the Army established the Meritorious Unit Commendation with a design more similar to other military ribbons. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the U.S. Army which is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. The unit must show outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks in a manner that sets them above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit to an individual. These military ribbons may be worn by all unit members of a cited organization whether or not a member during the action sited, and is considered an individual decoration for persons who were unit members during the cited acts, even after they are no longer members of that unit. The Valorous Unit Award is the next higher, and the Superior Unit Award is the next lower in the order of precedence for military medals and ribbons. A unit banner is also approved for display. The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation is generally available as Army ribbons and a unit banner, and can be worn as traditional full size military ribbons and lapel pins.