§ 9274. Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distinguished-service medal: limitations on award

• (a) No more than one Air Force Cross or distinguished-service medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs.
• (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), no medal of honor, Air Force cross, distinguished-service medal, or device in place thereof, may be awarded to a person unless—
  • (1) the award is made within five years after the date of the act justifying the award;
  • (2) a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made within three years after the distinguished service; and
  • (3) it appears from records of the Department of the Air Force that the person is entitled to the award.
• (c) If the Secretary of the Air Force determines that—
  • (1) a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made and supported by sufficient evidence within three years after the distinguished service; and
  • (2) no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted on;