The following is a list of foreign decorations which have been approved at one time for wear on United States military uniforms.
The list below is by no means comprehensive, but does display the awards which have been bestowed to U.S. service members by the governments of foreign countries.
Brazil's highest orders of merit were rarely awarded to senior U.S. officers, during World War II.
By far, the Croix de guerre was the most commonly bestowed decoration to United States service members of all ranks.
Today, members of United States 5th Marine Regiment and 6th Marine Regiment, the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, the Army's 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st BN U.S. 28th Infantry Regiment, and the National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Separate Brigade are authorized to wear a Fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre, signifying the award of three Croix de guerre to each unit during World War I, but only while that individual is assigned to the unit.
The wearing of the decoration is considered ceremonial and the fourragère is not entered as an official military award in permanent service records.
Swarz pulled three French airmen out of a fire that erupted after a Greek F-16 crashed on Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, in January during a multinational exercise.
Specialist Alek Skarlatos, a National Guardsman based in Oregon, and Airman First Class Spencer Stone, were awarded the Legion of Honour by French President Francois Hollande saying they "gave a lesson in courage" by subduing a heavily armed attacker on a high-speed train carrying 500 passengers to Paris on August 21, 2015.
There is an additional badge which can be earned by U.S. Service members upon successful participation and completion of the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti, Africa.
German decorations have been awarded to United States soldiers beginning as far back as the American Revolution.
By the time of the First World War, German decorations had faded from the military memory of the United States and, during the actual conflict where Germany and America were on opposing sides, the wear of any German decoration by an American soldier would have been unthinkable.
The sole authorization of a Nazi decoration to U.S. personnel was in 1938 when the Order of the German Eagle was awarded to a small number of U.S. military personnel who had either served in Germany in a diplomatic posting or who had performed an act of service to the German state.
In the 21st century United States military, the German Proficiency and Marksmanship Badges are far more commonly awarded, mainly to U.S. Army and Air Force personnel.
Generals MacArthur and Eisenhower were awarded the Cross of Military Merit, 1st Class after World War II.
To date the only person that has been allowed to wear any Iraqi award has been General Petraeus, Multi-National Force - Iraq Commander.
First instituted in 2007, it is still a somewhat rare decoration and there are certain restrictions regarding its display (or in some case, even its mention) for U.S. personnel stationed in other Middle Eastern Arab countries who are on unfriendly terms with Israel [citation needed].
The Italian Orders are mainly awarded to senior U.S. officers in the United States European Command usually as "end-of-tour" decorations.
The Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau was founded by Grand Ducal decree on 31 March 1858 by King-Grand Duke William III.
The Order of Ouissam Alaouite was awarded mainly to United States military officers who had served on the Operation Torch planning staff during World War II.
The Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau was founded by Grand Ducal decree on 31 March 1858 by King-Grand Duke William III.
It was so rarely awarded to US military personnel, that only two U.S. officers have ever received it to date, CAPT Alfred Carini and LTC Keith N. Allen.
Polish decorations were first presented to U.S. senior military leaders in the aftermath of World War II as a measure of thanking the Allies for liberating Poland from Nazi Germany.
The Iraq Star has been awarded to U.S. officers who served with Polish forces in Iraq (MND-CS).The Afghanistan Star has been awarded to U.S. officers who served with Polish forces in Afghanistan (as part of the ISAF).
The award of Korean medals in the 21st century is mainly confined to senior U.S. military leaders attached to either USFK or CNFK.
Singaporean decorations are very rarely awarded to only senior U.S. officers, at the Joint Chiefs of Staff level.
Thai decorations are very rarely awarded to only senior U.S. officers, at the Joint Chiefs of Staff level.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was a common decoration for those Americans attached to the Eagle Squadrons; when some of those personnel transferred back to the United States Army Air Forces after America entered the war, the British DFC became a fairly common sight on U.S. uniforms during that time period.
In the 21st century United States military, the awarding of British decorations to U.S. service members is still somewhat common, most often to officers assigned in England or other various capacities with NATO European based defense groups.
Vatican awards of Pontifical Equestrian Orders of Chivalry are made by the Vatican Secretary of State in the name of the Sovereign Pontiff and may be accepted and retained by U.S. Military personnel as honorary merit awards and not for wear of the U.S. Military Uniform.
[9] The Order of the White Eagle was only rarely awarded to very senior U.S. officers, during World War II.