The Bronze Star was instituted by Executive Order 9419 on February 4, 1944, and was awarded to "any military who, serving within or together with the army of the United States after 6th December 1941, decorating himself by [heroic] or meritorious deeds as military, not participating in air operations, during military operations against an armed enemy or during an armed conflict in which the United States was not participating as a [belligerent]" (https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/245/Bronze-Star--Medal-BSM.htm?abc=M&show=list&sort=name).

The Legion of Merit is awarded by the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Homeland Security. The medal "was authorized by Congress in 1942 to award members of the Armed Forces for exceptionally meritorious conduct and outstanding service" (https://www.medalsofamerica.com/blog/legion-of-merit-details-and-eligibility/).

Before 1946, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus was the highest-ranking award for merit in Italy (http://www.regalis.com/reg/mauriziano.htm). "The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (or Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro in Italian) is a Roman Catholic dynastic order of knighthood bestowed by the House of Savoy, founded in 1572 by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, through amalgamation approved by Pope Gregory XIII of the Order of Saint Maurice, founded in 1434, with the medieval Order of Saint Lazarus, founded circa 1119, considered its sole legitimate successor." (https://www.identifymedals.com/database/medals-by-period/pre-ww1-medals/the-order-of-saints-maurice-and-lazarus-medal/)

"The Italian War Merit Cross (Croce al Merito di Guerra) was instituted by King Victor Emanuel III in 1918 and was awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year’s service who had been in contact with the enemy, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion. If an act of valour was deemed insufficient for the Medal of Military Valour, the War Merit Cross could be awarded instead.The War Merit Cross is made in bronze, measures 38mm wide (1-1/2 inches), and has a blue ribbon. A second award was indicated by a bronze star on the ribbon. The reverse side of the medal bears a 5-pointed star on a background of rays. The obverse side shows the royal cypher (“VE III” under a crown) in the upper arm with the words 'MERITO DI GVERRA' (War Merit) on the horizontal arms and a Roman sword pointed upwards, on oak leaves, in the lower arm" (https://www.identifymedals.com/database/medals-by-period/ww1-medals/the-war-merit-cross-medal/).