§ 8296. Navy and Marine Corps Medal

• (a) The President may award a medal called the “Navy and Marine Corps Medal” of appropriate design with accompanying ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in place thereof—
  • (1) to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or the Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy; or
  • (2) to any person to whom the Secretary of the Navy, before August 7, 1942 , awarded a letter of commendation for heroism, and who applies for that medal, regardless of the date of the act of heroism.
• (b) The authority in subsection (a) includes authority to award the medal to a member of the Ready Reserve who was not in a duty status defined in section 101(d) of this title when the member distinguished himself by heroism.