
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-107 Section 553(b)(1)(B)]
[CITE: 10USC6241]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle C--Navy and Marine Corps
 
                           PART II--PERSONNEL
 
                   CHAPTER 567--DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
 
Sec. 6241. Medal of honor

    The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a 
medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to 
a person who, while a member of the naval service, distinguishes himself 
conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above 
and beyond the call of duty--
        (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 foreign forces engaged in an 
    armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United 
    States is not a belligerent party.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 389; Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 2(1), July 
25, 1963, 77 Stat. 93; Pub. L. 104-106, div. A, title XV, 
Sec. 1503(b)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 512.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
            Revised section                      Source (U.S. Code)            
   Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
6241..................................  34 U.S.C. 354.                       Fe
b. 4, 1919, ch. 14, Sec.  1, 40
                                                                              S
tat. 1056; Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551,
                                                                              S
ec.  1, 56 Stat. 743.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a) the word ``award'' is added for clarity since the 
President determines the recipient, in addition to presenting the medal 
in the name of Congress. The words ``a member of the naval service'' are 
substituted for the words ``in the naval service of the United States'' 
for uniformity. The word ``distinguishes'' is substituted for the words 
``shall * * * distinguish'' for uniformity.
    In subsection (b) the words ``of the medal of honor authorized on 
August 8, 1942'' are substituted for the words ``adopted pursuant to the 
Act approved December 21, 1861 (12 Stat. 330)'' for the reason that the 
1861 Act does not establish the design, and the date of formal adoption 
of the design of the medal is obscure. The effect of the subsection is 
to continue the design recognized by 34 U.S.C. 354.


                               Amendments

    1996--Par. (2). Pub. L. 104-106 inserted ``or'' after ``an opposing 
foreign force;''.
    1963--Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the medal of 
honor, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished 
themselves in action involving actual conflict with an enemy, or in the 
line of his profession, and without detriment to the mission of his 
command or to the command to which attached, to permit its award for 
distinguished service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the 
United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict 
with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign 
forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in 
which the United States is not a belligerent party, and substituted the 
requirement that it be of appropriate design, with ribbons and 
appurtenances, for the requirement that it be the same as that 
authorized on August 8, 1942.


                        Meritorious Service Medal

    Establishment of, see Ex. Ord. No. 11448, set out as a note 
preceding section 1121 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1074h of this title; title 18 
section 704.
