
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC1129]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
                           PART II--PERSONNEL
 
                   CHAPTER 57--DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
 
Sec. 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, Sec. 1141(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 
107 Stat. 1756; amended Pub. L. 105-85, div. A, title X, 
Sec. 1073(a)(18), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1901.)


                               Amendments

    1997--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105-85 substituted ``November 30, 1993,'' 
for ``the date of the enactment of this section,'' and ``before such 
date or'' for ``before the date of the enactment of this section or''.


Award of Purple Heart to Persons Wounded While Held as Prisoners of War 
                          Before April 25, 1962

    Pub. L. 104-106, div. A, title V, Sec. 521, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 
309, provided that:
    ``(a) Award of Purple Heart.--For purposes of the award of the 
Purple Heart, the Secretary concerned (as defined in section 101 of 
title 10, United States Code) shall treat a former prisoner of war who 
was wounded before April 25, 1962, while held as a prisoner of war (or 
while being taken captive) in the same manner as a former prisoner of 
war who is wounded on or after that date while held as a prisoner of war 
(or while being taken captive).
    ``(b) Standards for Award.--An award of the Purple Heart under 
subsection (a) shall be made in accordance with the standards in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 10, 1996] for the award 
of the Purple Heart to persons wounded on or after April 25, 1962.
    ``(c) Eligible Former Prisoners of War.--A person shall be 
considered to be a former prisoner of war for purposes of this section 
if the person is eligible for the prisoner-of-war medal under section 
1128 of title 10, United States Code.''
