Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-102
§2735 Coast Guard Cross
Title 14 › SUBTITLE II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 27 — PAY, ALLOWANCES, AWARDS, AND OTHER RIGHTS AND BENEFITS › SUBCHAPTER II — AWARDS › § 2735
Summary
The President can give a Coast Guard Cross to a person serving in the Coast Guard when it is not under the Department of the Navy. It honors extraordinary heroism not qualifying for the Medal of Honor while fighting an enemy; in operations against foreign or terrorist forces; or while serving with friendly forces in a conflict where the United States is not a belligerent party.
Full Legal Text
Title 14, §2735
Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The President may award a Coast Guard cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to an individual who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, when the Coast Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy, distinguishes himself or herself 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 international terrorist organization; 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
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “an individual” for “a person” in introductory provisions. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 491a of this title as this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
14 U.S.C. § 2735
Title 14, Coast Guard
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102