A gold five pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1 ½
inches wide, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended
from a gold bar inscribed “VALOR”, surmounted by an eagle. In
the center of the star, Minerva’s head surrounded by the words
“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” On each ray of the star is a green
oak leaf. On the reverse is a bar engraved “THE CONGRESS TO”
with a space for engraving the name of the recipient. The medal
is suspended by a neck ribbon, 1 3/8 inches wide, Bluebird
67117. A shield of the same color ribbon with thirteen White
(67101) stars, arranged in the form of three chevrons is above
the medal. The service ribbon is 1/38 inches wide with five
White stars in the form of a “M”. See Army Regulation 600-8-22,
Military Awards. a. General George Washington had created the
Badge of Military Merit on 7 August 1782 but it had fallen into
disuse after the Revolutionary War. Decorations, as such, were
still too closely related to European royalty to be of concern
to the American people. Ho