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10 U.S.C. 1131: Purple Heart: limitation to members of the armed forcesText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 10-ARMED FORCESCHAPTER 57-DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
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§1131. Purple Heart: limitation to members of the armed forces

The decoration known as the Purple Heart (authorized to be awarded pursuant to Executive Order 11016) may only be awarded to a person who is a member of the armed forces at the time the person is killed or wounded under circumstances otherwise qualifying that person for award of the Purple Heart.

(Added Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 571(a)(1) , Nov. 18, 1997 , 111 Stat. 1756 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Executive Order 11016, referred to in text, is Ex. Ord. No. 11016, Apr. 25, 1962, 27 F.R. 4139, which is set out as a note under section 1129 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 571(b), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1756, provided that:

“Section 1131 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to persons who are killed or wounded after the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 18, 1997].”