Puerto Ricans in the Vietnam War Cambodia from 1959 to April 30, 1975. Puerto Ricans served in different positions throughout the military as commanders, fighter pilots and common foot soldiers. Many of them distinguished themselves in combat and were awarded the highest honors conferred by the military. Five were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest United States military decoration; five were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the second-highest military decoration of the United States Army; and two received the Navy Cross, the second-highest medal that can be awarded by the U.S. Navy. The Navy Cross is awarded to members of the U.S. Navy or
Order of Military Merit of the Companions of Artigas March 1985. In 1991, the government of Uruguay established the Medal of Military Merit as the highest military decoration of the Army of Uruguay.<ref name="469/997"></ref> It uses the same ribbon as the Military Order of Merit of the Companions of Artigas. The order was awarded in five different classes: Order of Military Merit of the Companions of Artigas The Military Order of Merit of the Companions of Artigas (Spanish: "El Orden Militar al Mérito Tenientes de Artigas"), was a military decoration of Uruguay. The Military Order of Merit of the Companions of Artigas was established by Law N° 14.955 on