
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-107 Section 553(c)(1)(B)]
[CITE: 10USC8741]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                          Subtitle D--Air Force
 
                           PART II--PERSONNEL
 
                   CHAPTER 857--DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
 
Sec. 8741. Medal of honor: award

    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 Air Force, 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. 540; Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 3(1), July 
25, 1963, 77 Stat. 94.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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---------------------------------
            Revised section                      Source (U.S. Code)            
   Source (Statutes at Large)
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---------------------------------
8741..................................  10:1403.                             Ju
ly 9, 1918, ch. 143, (8th par.
                                                                              u
nder ``Ordnance Department''), 40
                                                                              S
tat. 870.
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---------------------------------

    The words ``That the provisions of existing law relating to the 
award of medals of honor to officers, noncommissioned officers, and 
privates of the Army be, and they hereby are, amended so that'', in the 
Act of July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (8th par. under ``Ordnance Department''), 
40 Stat. 870, are not contained in 10:1403. They are also omitted from 
the revised section as surplusage. The word ``member'' is substituted 
for the words ``officer or enlisted man''. The word ``only'' is omitted 
as surplusage. The word ``award'' is inserted for clarity, since the 
President determines the recipient of the medal in addition to 
presenting it.


                               Amendments

    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, 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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1074h, 8748 of this title; 
title 18 section 704.
