Issued by
United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
Received by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
United States Department of Defense
Date
August 8, 1972
Medium
enamel on gold with silk (textile)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3 1/8 × 1 7/8 × 3/16 in. (7.9 × 4.8 × 0.5 cm)
Caption
Lt. Col. Colin Powell was first awarded the Legion of Merit in 1969 for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in the Republic of Vietnam. He received his second Legion of Merit in 1972 while stationed in D.C. The second award of this medal is denoted by the oak leaf cluster on the ribbon.
Description
One (1) Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster awarded to General Colin L. Powell. It is designed in the shape of the five-armed "Maltese Asterisk" with five distinctive "arrowhead" shaped arms and ten pointed crosses with gold balls at the end of each point. Surrounding each of the five points is a gold design of swords and a green border. At the center of the medallion is a blue circle with thirteen stars. On the reverse of the medallion on the outer scroll is the engraved inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and in the center circle, “ANNUIT COEPTIS MDCCLXXXII”. This translates to "He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings". The medal is suspended from a double-sided silk crimson and white silk ribbon with a bronze oak leaf cluster attached.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Type
medals
Topic
Government
Military
U.S. History, 1969-2001
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
Object number
A2022.101.1.56
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b0a2bfd8-a521-4a59-a752-2bb0b54ba13a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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