Yesterday, (February 5, 2013) the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces, Gen. (****) Martin E. Dempsey, awarded IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz the Legion of Merit award on behalf of the President of the United States.
A letter attached to the award, signed by Gen. Dempsey and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, stated that it was awarded to Lt. Gen. Gantz for his outstanding and noteworthy command and for his military service.
The Secretary of Defense praised Lt. Gen. Gantz’s command, saying that it ensures that the IDF will be able to stand strong in the face of a wide range of threats.
The Chief of the General Staff thanked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the award, saying that he accepted the award on behalf of all IDF soldiers and commanders and that it represented the strong relationship between the IDF and the U.S. Armed Forces. He also noted his gratitude for the tight-knit cooperation between the two militaries.
The “Legion of Merit” is a military award awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding activities. The award is given both to U.S. military personnel and to international army and government officials.
Photo: Lt General Gantz recieves the award from Gen. (****) Martin E. Dempsey. (Credit: IDF)