By the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and to permit the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to members of the armed forces of friendly foreign nations, it is hereby ordered that Section i of Executive Order Number 11448 of January 16, 1969, is amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. There is hereby established a Meritorious Service Medal, with accompanying ribbons and appurtenances, for award by the Secretary of a Military Department or the Secretary of Transportation with regard to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy, or by such military commanders or other appropriate officers as the Secretary concerned may designate, to any member of the armed forces of the United States, or to any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation, who has distinguished himself by outstanding meritorious achievement or service.".
RONALD REAGAN
The White House,
July 2, 1981.
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 2:29 p.m., July 6, 1981]
Ronald Reagan, Executive Order 12312—The Meritorious Service Medal Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/247578