The National Order of the Legion of Honour, formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour, is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil, and currently comprises five classes. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been retained by all later French governments and regimes.
The Order of Arts and Letters is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the Ordre national du Mérite was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields.
Paul Marie Félix Jacques René Arnaud de Foïard was a général in the French Army who served primarily in the French Foreign Legion taking part in World War II and the conflicts of Indochina and Algeria.
General Joseph Vuillemin was a French professional soldier whose early interest in aviation led him into increasingly responsible leadership positions in the Aeronautique Militaire during World War I. Ending the war with extensive decorations, including an unusual double award of the Legion d'honneur, as well as seven aerial victories, he became a dynamic leader of an aerial expedition to Africa in 1933. His climb through the ranks continued until World War II, when he became Chief of Staff of the French Air Force during the first year of World War II.
James Waddell was one of New Zealand's most highly decorated soldiers of the First World War. Waddell was received in the French Legion of Honour and promoted twice. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre seven times during the war.
Lionel Alexandre Pierre de Marmier was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed aerial victories in World War I. He remained involved in aviation postwar, setting flying records and serving in the Spanish Civil War. At the start of World War II, he returned to his nation's service, shooting down at least one German plane. He died in an air crash on 30 December 1944. He was posthumously promoted to General.
Benoît Puga is a general in the French Army and the Grand Chancellor of the National Order of the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit.
Philippe Louis Edmé Marie François Erulin was a senior French military officer. He is best known as the Colonel Commandant of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP, who directed the military intervention in Zaïre during the Shaba II conflict against rebels of the Congolese National Liberation Front (FLNC).
The Order of Tahiti Nui was established on 5 June 1996 by the Assembly of French Polynesia to reward distinguished merit and achievements in the service to French Polynesia.
Bernard Janvier is a former general of the French Army who served in the French Foreign Legion, primarily spearheading and putting in place effective resolving forces.
Paul-Frédéric Rollet (1875–1941) was a French Army Général who led in the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion RMLE, and was the 1st Inspector of the Foreign Legion, a post which he created under his intentions. Rollet accumulated 41 years of military service out of which 33 were in the Legion and also planned the 100th anniversary of the legion on Camerone day of 30 April 1931. Consequently, he was responsible for creating many of the Legion's current traditions.
The Ordre national du Mérite is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order's establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ministerial orders previously awarded by the ministries; and to create an award that can be awarded at a lower level than the Legion of Honour, which is generally reserved for French citizens. It comprises about 185,000 members; 306,000 members have been admitted or promoted in 50 years.
Admiral Georges Cabanier was a French Naval Officer and Admiral, in addition to Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour.
Paul Gardy was Général de brigade of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion in 1951 and 1958.
Jacques Lefort was a Général de corps d'armée of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion.
Jacques Morin (1924-1995) was a French officer and company commander of the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment.
Hervé Charpentier is a Général d'armée of the French Army.
Général Hippolyte-Albert Cambriels was a French military commander.
