The Meritorious Service Unit Plaque was originally established by War Department Circular 345 on 23 August 1944. The circular provided units which received the Plaque were entitled to wear on their right sleeves of their service coat and shirt (four inches from the end) the Meritorious Service Unit Insignia. A gold star placed on the plaque represented additional awards until War Department Circular No. 54, 1946, provided that additional awards would be shown by placing a gold numeral on the inside of the wreath. In December 1946, the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque was eliminated, replaced with the issue of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. A new design of the Meritorious Service Unit Emblem was approved in April 1947. This replaced the sleeve insignia and was to be effective 1 January 1949.