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Code · U.S. Code · Title 10 - ARMED FORCES · CHAPTER 937— DECORATIONS AND AWARDS · § 9274

§ 9274. Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distinguished-service medal: limitations on award

753 words·~3 min read·/usc/title-10/section-9274

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)No more than one Air Force Cross or distinguished-service medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs.
(b)Except as provided in subsection (c), no medal of honor, Air Force cross, distinguished-service medal, or device in place thereof, may be awarded to a person unless—
(1)the award is made within five years after the date of the act justifying the award;
(2)a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made within three years after the distinguished service; and
(3)it appears from records of the Department of the Air Force that the person is entitled to the award.
(c)If the Secretary of the Air Force determines that—
(1)a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made and supported by sufficient evidence within three years after the distinguished service; and
(2)no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted on;
a medal of honor, Air Force cross, distinguished-service medal, or device in place thereof, as the case may be, may be awarded to the person concerned within two years after the date of that determination.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 540, § 8744; Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(3), July 5, 1960, 74 Stat. 320; Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(2), July 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 331; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, §§ 561(c), 562(b), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 766; renumbered § 9274, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 582(b)(3), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1412.)
In subsection (a), the words “may be awarded to a person” are substituted for the words “shall be issued to any one person” to conform to the other subsections of the revised section.
In subsection (b), the word “thereof” is substituted for the words “of either of said medal or of said cross”. The words “Except as otherwise prescribed in this section”, “at the time of”, “specific”, “official”, and “has so distinguished himself as” are omitted as surplusage.
In subsection (c), 10:1409 (words after 3d semicolon) is omitted as executed. The words “hereinbefore authorized” are omitted as surplusage.
Connections1 cite this · traces to 4
16 references not yet in our index
  • Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041
  • 70A Stat. 540
  • Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(3)
  • 74 Stat. 320
  • Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(2)
  • 74 Stat. 331
  • 127 Stat. 766
  • 132 Stat. 1833
  • 133 Stat. 1412
  • section 8744 of this title
  • Pub. L. 86–593
  • Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(3)(A)
  • Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(3)(B)
  • Pub. L. 86–593, § 2
  • 74 Stat. 332
  • 132 Stat. 1841
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 9274
Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distinguished-service medal: limitations on award
U.S.C.×1
ActAug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041
Stat.70A Stat. 540
Pub. L.Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(3)
Stat.74 Stat. 320
Pub. L.Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(2)
Cites 20 · showing 9Cited by 1 across 1 source
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