United States. A Presidential Medal Of Merit, C.1945

Instituted in 1942. 1942-1952 Issue. In bronze gilt with blue, white and green enamels, measuring 38.5 mm (w) x 62.5 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon with brooch pinback, extremely fine. In its cardboard box of issue, white label affixed to the side panel inscribed "Medal for Merit" and maker marked "V. H. BLACKINTON & CO., INC.", scuffing, wear and tape residue evident on the exterior of both the lid and base, box fine.

Footnote: The Medal for Merit was, during the period it was awarded, the highest civilian decoration of the United States, awarded by the President of the United States, to civilians for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services ... since the proclamation of an emergency by the President on September 8, 1939". The Medal for Merit was created by Public Law 77-671 and its awarding codified by Executive Order 9286 - Medal for Merit on December 24, 1942, later amended and restated by Executive Order 9857A of May 27, 1947. Created during the Second World War, and awarded to "civilians of the nations prosecuting the war under the joint declaration of the United Nations and of other friendly foreign nations", the medal has not been awarded since 1952. The first medals were awarded to John C. Garand and Albert Hoyt Taylor on March 28, 1944. The Medal for Merit is currently listed as seventh in order of precedence of U.S. civilian decorations, below the Silver Lifesaving Medal and above the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal. Civilians of foreign nations could receive the award for the performance of an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act or acts in furtherance of the war efforts of the Allies against the Axis Powers.

The first person to receive this medal who was not an American citizen was Edgar Sengier, the director of the Belgian Union Minière du Haut Katanga during the Second World War. Sengier was awarded the Medal for Merit on April 9, 1946. The second foreign civilian to receive the medal was the Canadian spymaster William Stephenson in November 1946. Stephenson had the code name "Intrepid" during the Second World War. Some writers consider Stephenson to be one of the real life inspirations for the fictitious character "James Bond". Another one was the British Sir Robert Watson-Watt, a pioneer of radar, who created a chain of radar stations around the UK which enabled advance information to be available to the Royal Air Force of incoming German aircraft and was instrumental in the winning of the 1940 Battle of Britain. He was sent to the US in 1941 to advise on air defence, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the US Medal for Merit in 1946. All proposed awards were considered by the Medal for Merit Board, consisting of three members appointed by the President, of whom one was appointed as the Chairman of the Board. This medal cannot be awarded for any action relating to the prosecution of the Second World War after the end of hostilities (as proclaimed by Proclamation No. 2714 of December 31, 1946), and no proposal for this award for such services could be submitted after June 30, 1947. The last medal of this type was awarded in 1952 after a long delay in processing.