The Order of Military Merit (Hangul: 무공훈장, Hanja: 武功勳章) is the primary military decoration awarded by the government of Republic of Korea (South Korea).
Classes of the Order[]
The order is awarded in one of five classes, as follows.
1st Class – Taegeuk Cordon[]
1st class: 太極, Taegeuk[1] (Taegeuk Cordon or Grand Cordon) – Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit is the highest decoration for military bravery and valour awarded by the government of South Korea. Members of the armed forces of South Korea, as well of its allies, are eligible for the award.
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Document of award of the Taegeuk Cordon to the Unknown Dead of Greece for the Greek participation in the Korean War
Notable recipients[]
- Chappy Hakim – Air Chief Marshall, Indonesian Air Force
- Young-Oak Kim – Colonel, United States Army
- Homer Litzenberg – General, United States Marine Corps
- William Westmoreland – General, United States Army
- Frank Fort Everest – General, United States Air Force
- Horace Robertson – Lieutenant General, Australian Army
- HN KIM United States Navy
2nd Class – Eulji Cordon[]
Col. Edwin A. Doss' Eulji Medal with Silver Star (1952-63 design)
2nd class: 乙支, Eulji[2] (Field Marshal Lord Eulji Cordon)
Notable recipients[]
- Pham Van Dong – General, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam
- Chesty Puller – Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps
- William P. Yarborough – Lieutenant General, United States Army
3rd Class – Chungmu Cordon[]
3rd class: 忠武, Chungmu (Lord High Admiral Chungmu Cordon)
Notable recipients[]
- Han Moo-hyup – Major General, Republic of Korea Army
- Alfredo M. Santos – General, Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – Admiral, United States Navy
4th Class – Hwarang Cordon[]
4th class: 花郞, Hwarang (Youth Military Corps Cordon)
Notable recipients[]
- Major Steven Vorhees Boylan (later Col. US Army retired) For direct support of the 10th Korean "Meng Ho" Division in the central coast region of Viet Nam in 1966.
- Sergeant First Class Richard E. Falk (Love Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division) For valor during 17–18 April 1953 in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill, Republic of Korea. History of this battle is described in S.L.A. Marshall's book, Pork Chop Hill. SFC Falk also received the Silver Star (G.O. #245 Hq. 7th Infantry Div.) and the Purple Heart. Youngest First Sgt. in training Compay G, 123rd Infantry Regt, Ft. Lewis, WA, 1953.
5th Class – Inheon Cordon[]
5th class: 仁憲, Inheon[3] (Field Marshal Lord Inheon Cordon)
Notable recipients[]
- Yoon Jang-ho – (Ha-sa) Staff Sergeant, Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Footnotes[]
External links[]
- MOPAS Order of Military Merit page (Ministry of Public Administration and Security)
- Historical changes to the Eulji/Ulchi medal design
- Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit
The original article can be found at Order of Military Merit (Korea) and the edit history here.