§ 491. — Medal of honor.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 14USC491]
TITLE 14--COAST GUARD
PART I--REGULAR COAST GUARD
CHAPTER 13--PAY, ALLOWANCES, AWARDS, AND OTHER RIGHTS AND BENEFITS
Sec. 491. 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 Coast Guard, 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;
(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. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 4, July 25,
1963, 77 Stat. 95.)
Historical and Revision Notes
This section is new insofar as application to Coast Guard personnel
in time of peace is concerned. Such awards can be made to members of the
Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is operating with the Navy.
The language is parallel to that found in title 34, U.S.C., 1946
ed., Sec. 354, providing for awards to personnel of the Navy. 81st
Congress, House Report No. 557.
Amendments
1963--Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the medal of
honor, which was limited to those cases in which persons, while in the
service of the Coast Guard, 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 by members
of the Coast Guard 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 the design be the same as that
of the Navy medal of honor.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 505 of this title; title 10
section 1074h; title 18 section 704.
