1. U.S. Code
  2. title 10
  3. subtitle A
  4. part II
  5. chapter 57
  6. § 1131

Collapse to view only § 1131. Purple Heart: limitation to members of the armed forces

§ 1121. Legion of Merit: award

The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may award a decoration called the “Legion of Merit”, having suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees, to any member of the armed forces of the United States or of any friendly foreign nation who, after September 8, 1939, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 88.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1121

§ 1122. Medal for Merit: award

The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may award a decoration called the “Medal for Merit”, having distinctive appurtenances and devices and only one degree, to any civilian of any nation prosecuting the war in existence on July 20, 1942, under the joint declaration of the United Nations, as then constituted, or of any other friendly foreign nation, who, after September 8, 1939, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services. The Medal for Merit may be awarded to a civilian of a foreign nation but only for performing an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in the furtherance of the war efforts of the United Nations as then constituted.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 88.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1122

§ 1123. Right to wear badges of military societies
(a) A member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who is a member of a military society originally composed of men who served in an armed force of the United States during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, or the Chinese Relief Expedition of 1900 may wear, on occasions of ceremony, the distinctive badges adopted by that society.
(b) A member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who is a member of the Army and Navy Union of the United States may wear, on public occasions of ceremony, the distinctive badges adopted by that society.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 88; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(3)(Q), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3821.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1123

§ 1124. Cash awards for disclosures, suggestions, inventions, and scientific achievements
(a) The Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may authorize the payment of a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, a member of the armed forces under his jurisdiction who by his disclosure, suggestion, invention, or scientific achievement contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of operations or programs relating to the armed forces.
(b) Whenever the President considers it desirable, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, are authorized to pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, a member of the armed forces who by his disclosure, suggestion, invention, or scientific achievement contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of operations of the Government of the United States. Such award is in addition to any other award made to that member under subsection (a).
(c) An award under this section may be paid notwithstanding the member’s death, separation, or retirement from the armed force concerned. However, the disclosure, suggestion, invention, or scientific achievement forming the basis for the award must have been made while the member was on active duty or in an active reserve status and not otherwise eligible for an award under chapter 45 of title 5.
(d) A cash award under this section is in addition to the pay and allowances of the recipient. The acceptance of such an award shall constitute—
(1) an agreement by the member that the use by the United States of any idea, method, or device for which the award is made may not be the basis of a claim against the United States by the member, his heirs, or assigns, or by any person whose claim is alleged to be derived through the member; and
(2) a warranty by the member that he has not at the time of acceptance transferred, assigned, or otherwise divested himself of legal or equitable title in any property right residing in the idea, method, or device for which the award is made.
(e) Awards to, and expenses for the honorary recognition of, members of the armed forces under this section may be paid from (1) the funds or appropriations available to the activity primarily benefiting; or (2) the several funds or appropriations of the various activities benefiting, as may be determined by the President for awards under subsection (b), and by the Secretary concerned for awards under subsection (a).
(f) The total amount of the award, or awards, made under this section for a disclosure, suggestion, invention, or scientific achievement may not exceed $25,000, regardless of the number of persons who may be entitled to share therein.
(g) Awards under this section shall be made under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(h) For the purposes of this section, a member of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or of the Public Health Service who is serving with an armed force shall be treated as if he were a member of that armed force.
(Added Pub. L. 89–198, § 1(1), Sept. 22, 1965, 79 Stat. 830; amended Pub. L. 89–718, § 10, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 90–623, § 2(1), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1314; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, § 112(c), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(40), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2923; Pub. L. 96–527, title VII, § 772, Dec. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 3093; Pub. L. 99–145, title XII, § 1225(a)(1), (2)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 730; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1124

§ 1124a. Cyber operations-peculiar awards
(a)Authority.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments may authorize the payment of a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, a member of the covered armed forces whose novel actions, invention, or technical achievement enables or ensures operational outcomes in or through cyberspace against threats to national security.
(b)Actions During Service.—An award under this section may be paid notwithstanding the member’s death, separation, or retirement from the covered armed forces. However, the novel action, invention, or technical achievement forming the basis for the award must have been made while the member was on active duty or in an active reserve status and not otherwise eligible for an award under chapter 45 of title 5.
(c)Payment.—Awards to, and expenses for the honorary recognition of, members of the covered armed forces under this section may be paid from—
(1) the funds or appropriations available to the activity primarily benefiting from the novel action, invention, or technical achievement; or
(2) the several funds or appropriations of the various activities benefiting from the novel action, invention, or technical achievement.
(d)Amounts.—The total amount of the award, or awards, made under this section for a novel action, invention, or technical achievement may not exceed $2,500, regardless of the number of persons who may be entitled to share therein.
(e)Regulations.—Awards under this section shall be made under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretaries of the military departments.
(f)Covered Armed Forces Defined.—In this section, the term “covered armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title XV, § 1531, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2900.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1124a

§ 1125. Recognition for accomplishments: award of trophies
The Secretary of Defense may—
(1) award medals, trophies, badges, and similar devices to members, units, or agencies of an armed force under his jurisdiction for excellence in accomplishments or competitions related to that armed force; and
(2) provide badges or buttons in recognition of special service, good conduct, and discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.
(Added Pub. L. 89–529, § 1(1), Aug. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 339.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1125

§ 1126. Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution
(a) A lapel button, to be known as the gold star lapel button, shall be designed, as approved by the Secretary of Defense, to identify next of kin of members of the armed forces—
(1) who lost their lives during World War I, World War II, or during any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958;
(2) who lost or lose their lives after June 30, 1958—
(A) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
(B) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
(C) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force; or
(3) who lost or lose their lives after March 28, 1973, as a result of—
(A) an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of Defense; or
(B) military operations while serving outside the United States (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States) as part of a peacekeeping force.
(b) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned, upon application to him, shall furnish one gold star lapel button without cost to each next of kin of a member who lost or loses his or her life under any circumstances prescribed in subsection (a).
(c) Not more than one gold star lapel button may be furnished to any one individual except that, when a gold star lapel button furnished under this section has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was furnished, the button may be replaced upon application and without cost.
(d) In this section:
(1) The term “next of kin” means individuals standing in such relationship to members of the armed forces described in subsection (a) as the Secretaries concerned shall jointly specify in regulations for purposes of this section.
(2) The term “World War I” includes the period from April 6, 1917, to March 3, 1921.
(3) The term “World War II” includes the period from September 8, 1939, to July 25, 1947, at 12 o’clock noon.
(4) The term “military operations” includes those operations involving members of the armed forces assisting in United States Government sponsored training of military personnel of a foreign nation.
(5) The term “peacekeeping force” includes those personnel assigned to a force engaged in a peacekeeping operation authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
(Added Pub. L. 89–534, § 1(1), Aug. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 345, § 1124; renumbered § 1126, Pub. L. 89–718, § 9, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1117; amended Pub. L. 98–94, title XII, § 1268(8), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 706; Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(k)(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 284; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1143, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1757; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 581, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1411.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1126

§ 1127. Precedence of the award of the Purple Heart

In prescribing regulations establishing the order of precedence of awards and decorations authorized to be displayed on the uniforms of members of the armed forces, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall accord the Purple Heart a position of precedence, in relation to other awards and decorations authorized to be displayed, not lower than that immediately following the bronze star.

(Added Pub. L. 98–525, title V, § 553(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2532; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 533, Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 634.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1127

§ 1128. Prisoner-of-war medal: issue
(a) The Secretary concerned shall issue a prisoner-of-war medal to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the armed forces, was taken prisoner and held captive—
(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
(3) while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(b) Under uniform regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned may issue a prisoner-of-war medal to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the armed forces, was held captive under circumstances not covered by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a), but which the Secretary concerned finds were comparable to those circumstances under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict.
(c) The prisoner-of-war medal shall be of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances.
(d) In prescribing regulations establishing the order of precedence of awards and decorations authorized to be displayed on the uniforms of members of the armed forces, the Secretary concerned shall accord the prisoner-of-war medal a position of precedence, in relation to other awards and decorations authorized to be displayed—
(1) immediately following decorations awarded for individual heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service, and
(2) before any other service medal, campaign medal, or service ribbon authorized to be displayed.
(e) Not more than one prisoner-of-war medal may be issued to a person. However, for each succeeding service that would otherwise justify the issuance of such a medal, the Secretary concerned may issue a suitable device to be worn as the Secretary determines.
(f) For a person to be eligible for issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal, the person’s conduct must have been honorable for the period of captivity which serves as the basis for the issuance.
(g) If a person dies before the issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal to which he is entitled, the medal may be issued to the person’s representative, as designated by the Secretary concerned.
(h) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a prisoner-of-war medal that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
(i) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments under this section are uniform so far as practicable.
(Added Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 532(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 633; amended Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title V, § 516(a), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1441; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, § 584, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1767.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1128

§ 1129. Purple Heart: members killed or wounded in action by friendly fire
(a) For purposes of the award of the Purple Heart, the Secretary concerned shall treat a member of the armed forces described in subsection (b) in the same manner as a member who is killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States.
(b) A member described in this subsection is a member who is killed or wounded in action by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, other than as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States, unless (in the case of a wound) the wound is the result of willful misconduct of the member.
(c) This section applies to members of the armed forces who are killed or wounded on or after December 7, 1941. In the case of a member killed or wounded as described in subsection (b) on or after December 7, 1941, and before November 30, 1993, the Secretary concerned shall award the Purple Heart under subsection (a) in each case which is known to the Secretary before such date or for which an application is made to the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary requires.
(Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1141(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1756; amended Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, § 1073(a)(18), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1901.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1129

§ 1129a. Purple Heart: members killed or wounded in attacks by foreign terrorist organizations
(a)In General.—For purposes of the award of the Purple Heart, the Secretary concerned shall treat a member of the armed forces described in subsection (b) in the same manner as a member who is killed or wounded as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States.
(b)Covered Members.—
(1) A member described in this subsection is a member on active duty who was killed or wounded in an attack by a foreign terrorist organization in circumstances where the death or wound is the result of an attack targeted on the member due to such member’s status as a member of the armed forces, unless the death or wound is the result of willful misconduct of the member.
(2) For purposes of this section, an attack by an individual or entity shall be considered to be an attack by a foreign terrorist organization if—
(A) the individual or entity was in communication with the foreign terrorist organization before the attack; and
(B) the attack was inspired or motivated by the foreign terrorist organization.
(c)Foreign Terrorist Organization Defined.—In this section, the term “foreign terrorist organization” means an entity designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
(Added Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, § 571(a)(1)(A), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3387.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1129a

§ 1130. Consideration of proposals for decorations not previously submitted in timely fashion: procedures for review
(a) Upon request of a Member of Congress, the Secretary concerned shall review a proposal for the award or presentation of a decoration (or the upgrading of a decoration), either for an individual or a unit, that is not otherwise authorized to be presented or awarded due to limitations established by law or policy for timely submission of a recommendation for such award or presentation. Based upon such review, the Secretary shall make a determination as to the merits of approving the award or presentation of the decoration.
(b) Upon making a determination under subsection (a) as to the merits of approving the award or presentation of the decoration, the Secretary concerned shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and to the requesting Member of Congress a detailed discussion of the rationale supporting the determination. If the determination includes a favorable recommendation for the award of the Medal of Honor, the Secretary of Defense, instead of the Secretary concerned, shall make the submission under this subsection.
(c) Determinations under this section regarding the award or presentation of a decoration shall be made in accordance with the same procedures that apply to the approval or disapproval of the award or presentation of a decoration when a recommendation for such award or presentation is submitted in a timely manner as prescribed by law or regulation.
(d) In this section:
(1) The term “Member of Congress” means—
(A) a Senator; or
(B) a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, Congress.
(2) The term “decoration” means any decoration or award that may be presented or awarded to a member or unit of the armed forces.
(Added Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title V, § 526(a), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 313; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title X, § 1031(a)(10), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 524, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1401.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1130

§ 1131. Purple Heart: limitation to members of the armed forces

The decoration known as the Purple Heart (authorized to be awarded pursuant to Executive Order 11016) may only be awarded to a person who is a member of the armed forces at the time the person is killed or wounded under circumstances otherwise qualifying that person for award of the Purple Heart.

(Added Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 571(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1756.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1131

§ 1132. Presentation of decorations: prohibition on entering correctional facilities for presentation to prisoners convicted of serious violent felonies
(a)Prohibition.—A member of the armed forces may not enter a Federal, State, local, or foreign correctional facility to present a decoration to a person who is incarcerated due to conviction of a serious violent felony.
(b)Definitions.—In this section:
(1) The term “decoration” means any decoration or award that may be presented or awarded to a member of the armed forces.
(2) The term “serious violent felony” has the meaning given that term in section 3559(c)(2)(F) of title 18.
(Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title V, § 537(a), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2019.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1132

§ 1133. Bronze Star: limitation on persons eligible to receive
The decoration known as the “Bronze Star” may only be awarded to a member of a military force who—
(1) at the time of the events for which the decoration is to be awarded, was serving in a geographic area in which special pay is authorized under section 310 or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a) of title 37; or
(2) receives special pay under section 310 or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a) of title 37 as a result of those events.
(Added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title V, § 541(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–114; amended Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 571(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4222.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1133

§ 1134. Medal of honor: award to individual interred in Tomb of the Unknowns as representative of casualties of a war

The medal of honor awarded posthumously to a deceased member of the armed forces who, as an unidentified casualty of a particular war or other armed conflict, is interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, is awarded to the member as the representative of the members of the armed forces who died in such war or other armed conflict and whose remains have not been identified, and not to the individual personally.

(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 561(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1917.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1134

§ 1134a. Medal of honor: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll
(a)Establishment.—There shall be in the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, and the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating a roll designated as the “Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll”.
(b)Enrollment.—The Secretary concerned shall enter and record on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll the name of each person who has served on active duty in the armed forces and who has been awarded a medal of honor pursuant to section 7271, 8291, or 9271 of this title or section 2732 of title 14.
(c)Issuance of Enrollment Certificate.—Each living person whose name is entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll shall be issued a certificate of enrollment on the roll.
(d)Entitlement to Special Pension; Notice to Secretary of Veterans Affairs.—The Secretary concerned shall deliver to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a certified copy of each certificate of enrollment issued under subsection (c). The copy of the certificate shall authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay the special pension provided by section 1562 of title 38 to the person named in the certificate.
(Added Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 563(a)(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 767; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1840; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVIII, § 1801(a)(15), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 684.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1134a

§ 1135. Replacement of military decorations
(a)Replacement.—In addition to other authorities available to the Secretary concerned to replace a military decoration, the Secretary concerned shall replace, on a one-time basis and without charge, a military decoration upon the request of the recipient of the military decoration or the immediate next of kin of a deceased recipient.
(b)Prompt Replacement Required.—When a request for the replacement of a military decoration is received under this section or section 7277, 7281, 8303, 9277, or 9281 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall ensure that—
(1) all actions to be taken with respect to the request, including verification of the service record of the recipient of the military decoration, are completed within one year; and
(2) the replacement military decoration is mailed to the person requesting the replacement military decoration within 90 days after verification of the service record.
(c)Military Decoration Defined.—In this section, the term “decoration” means any decoration or award (other than the medal of honor) that may be presented or awarded by the President or the Secretary concerned to a member of the armed forces.
(Added Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 571(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4471; amended Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 564, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 768; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1840.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1135

§ 1136. Honorable service requirement for award of military decorations

No military decoration, including a medal, cross, or bar, or an associated emblem or insignia, may be awarded or presented to any person, or to a representative of the person, if the service of the person after the person distinguished himself or herself has not been honorable.

(Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 582(a)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1411.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1136