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208:("VE III" under a crown) in the upper arm, "MERITO DI GVERRA" (War Merit) on the horizontal arms and a Roman sword point upwards, on oak leaves, in the lower arm. The ribbon is blue with white stripes. While the latter originally were five, within months they were reduced to two white stripes. Successive awards, three awardings per person being the maximum, were indicated by one or two bronze royal crowns. During
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The
Italian War Merit Cross was awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year's service in contact with an enemy, or who received the Medal of the Wounded, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion. Also, if an act of valour was deemed insufficient for
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in 1947, the royal cypher being replaced by the intertwined letters "RI" for
Repubblica Italiana. Limited to three awardings once again, with one cross or bar for every war allowed, multiple awards were shown by bronze stars. In the current form multiple awards are shown by silver stars.
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The War Merit Cross was in bronze, 38mm wide (1-1/2 inches). The reverse side bears a 5-pointed star on a background of rays. The obverse has the
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185:, the War Merit Cross could be awarded instead; from 1922 onwards a bronze sword on the ribbon showed this class of award.
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William
Alexander Cunningham, Captain 321st Battalion US Army, Awarded January 19, 1918, n205
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From its institution until 30 May 1927, 1,034,924 Crosses were issued.
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on 19 January 1918. The award received major changes during
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War Merit Cross version awarded in the
Kingdom of Italy
457:"Esercito Italiano- Nastrini delle decorazioni in uso"
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371:and member of Allied Mission to Italian Army in
380:, Second Lieutenant, US Army Air Service, MoH
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259:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
540:Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Italy)
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279:Learn how and when to remove this message
535:Military awards and decorations of Italy
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46:One year of service in combat operations
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105:Ribbon bar of the cross for two awards
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478:"Italian Army Awards and Medals WW1"
257:adding citations to reliable sources
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74:Members of the Italian armed forces
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459:(in Italian). Esercito.difesa.it
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168:and currently is issued by the
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357:Representative from California
338:(twice), Admiral, Italian Navy
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506:Shackelford, Micheal (1998).
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332:, Major General, US Army, MoH
311:(later Admiral), Italian Navy
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156:. It was instituted by King
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414:Sebastiano Visconti Prasca
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416:, General, Italian Army
398:, Private, Italian Army
386:, General, US Army, MoH
295:, Private, US Army, MoH
183:Medal of Military Valor
97:Ribbon bar of the cross
48:Being wounded in combat
410:, Czechoslovak general
404:, British Army officer
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321:Giuseppe Cirrincione
309:Lieutenant Commander
253:improve this section
293:Robert L. Blackwell
158:Victor Emmanuel III
154:military decoration
424:United States Army
390:Richard W. O'Neill
366:United States Army
347:Richmond H. Hilton
330:William J. Donovan
301:, General, US Army
221:Notable recipients
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119:Next (higher)
508:"Medals of Italy"
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384:Douglas MacArthur
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133:Army Merit Cross
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82:19 January 1918
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373:World War II
353:Edouard Izac
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251:Please help
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210:World War II
206:royal cypher
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166:World War II
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53:Presented by
176:Eligibility
162:World War I
79:Established
71:Eligibility
43:Awarded for
529:Categories
513:17 October
488:17 October
463:2012-05-30
440:References
433:Alvin York
114:Precedence
269:June 2012
240:does not
172:as well.
261:removed
246:sources
160:during
146:Italian
192:Design
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