14 U.S.C. § 2743: Posthumous awards

Summary

If a person dies before getting an award they earned, the award can still be given within five years of the act or service that earned it. It goes to the next of kin the person named, or if none was named, or that person is dead, or their relationship ended before the death, then to a representative the President picks. If the award would go to the parents and they are divorced or separated, each parent may receive a duplicate award.

Title 14, §2743

Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In case an individual who dies before the making of any award to which such individual may be entitled, as authorized in this chapter, the award may be made and presented within five years from the date of the act or service justifying the award to such next of kin as may have been designated by the individual, or in the absence of such designation, or if the designated individual is not alive at the time of the award, or the relationship between such individual and the serviceman shall have been terminated before his death, then to such representative as the President designates. In the event of a posthumous award when the award will be made to the parents of the deceased and the parents have been divorced or separated, a duplicate award may be made to each parent.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

This section sets forth the conditions under which posthumous awards can be made. It is substantially the same as conditions for the Navy, but has the added provision for duplicate awards in case the parents are divorced or separated (see title 34, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 363). 81st Congress,

House Report No. 557

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283, § 8506(h), struck out “distinguishes himself” before “dies” and substituted “such individual” for “he”. Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(35), substituted “designated individual” for “designated person” and “individual and” for “person and”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 498 of this title as this section.

§2743 Posthumous Awards