Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor is an accolade awarded to UNSC Defense Force personnel for selfless acts of heroism or daring in combat. The medal is usually awarded in a ceremony and is one of the highest honors a soldier, sailor, Marine, or airman can receive.

History
After his leap of tactical insight during the Callisto Incident of 2494, Central Command dithered over whether to award then-Ensign Preston Cole the Legion of Honor, or to have him court-martialed for a breach of protocol and abuse of Common Space Law. Ultimately they did neither, to avoid setting precedent.

MCPO John-117 earned this award by diving into a bunker full of Covenant soldiers, single-handedly defeated them, and ultimately saving a platoon of Marines from a Shade prior to 2552.

Recipients

 * Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood
 * Captain Jacob Keyes
 * Commander Miranda Keyes (posthumous)
 * Master Chief Petty Officer John-117
 * Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson
 * Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez
 * Corporal James Dessen

Trivia
The Legion of Honor's appearance is likened to that of the Medal of Honor used by the United States Armed Forces from its creation during the American Civil War until the unification of Earth. Currently, only the Navy version, awarded to personnel of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard, has been seen in the Halo universe.