Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§7272 Distinguished-service cross: award

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle B— - Army › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 737— - DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 7272

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can give a Distinguished-Service Cross, with its ribbon and attachments, to a person serving in any capacity in the Army who shows extraordinary heroism that does not rise to a Medal of Honor. It covers heroism (1) in combat against a U.S. enemy, (2) during military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or (3) while serving with friendly foreign forces in an armed conflict where the United States is not a belligerent.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §7272

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The President may award a distinguished-service cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor— (1)
(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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 374210:1406.July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (9th par. under “Ordnance Department”), 40 Stat. 870. The words “but not in the name of Congress” are omitted as surplusage, since a medal is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The words “since the 6th day of April, 1917” are omitted as executed. The word “award” is substituted for the word “present” to cover the determination of the recipients as well as the actual presentation of the medal, and to conform to other sections of this chapter. The words “or herself” are omitted, since, under section 1 of title 1, words importing the masculine gender include the feminine. The words “or who shall hereafter distinguish” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 3742 of this title as this section. 1963—Pub. L. 88–77 enlarged authority to award the distinguished-service cross, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished themselves in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, to permit its award for extraordinary heroism not justifying award of a medal of honor, while engaged in an action against an enemy of 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 United States is not a belligerent party.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 7272

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73