10 U.S.C. § 1122 — Medal for Merit: award

Under regulations prescribed by the President, the President may award a decoration called the “Medal for Merit.” It has distinctive accompanying features and devices and only one degree. The President may award it to a civilian of any nation prosecuting the war existing on July 20, 1942, under the joint declaration of the United Nations as then constituted, or to a civilian of another friendly foreign nation, if that civilian, after September 8, 1939, distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services. A civilian of a foreign nation may receive the medal only for an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act that furthered the war efforts of the United Nations as then constituted.