§704. Military medals or decorations

(a) In General.-Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(b) Congressional Medal of Honor.-

(1) In general.-If a decoration or medal involved in an offense under subsection (a) is a Congressional Medal of Honor, in lieu of the punishment provided in that subsection, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(2) Definitions.-(A) As used in subsection (a) with respect to a Congressional Medal of Honor, "sells" includes trades, barters, or exchanges for anything of value.

(B) As used in this subsection, "Congressional Medal of Honor" means a medal awarded under section 3741, 6241, or 8741 of title 10.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 732 ; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §16, 63 Stat. 92 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, §320109, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(E), 108 Stat. 2113 , 2146; Nov. 2, 1994, Pub. L. 103–442, 108 Stat. 4630 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1948 Act

Based on section 1425 of title 10, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Army and Air Force (Feb. 24, 1923, ch. 110, 42 Stat. 1286 ; Apr. 21, 1928, ch. 392, 45 Stat. 437 ).

Section was made to cover the decorations and medals of the Navy Department as well as the War Department.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

1949 Act

This section [section 16] clarifies the wording of section 704 of title 18, U.S.C., to embrace all service decorations awarded to members of the armed forces whether by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or other branch of such forces. (See note to sec. 5 [of 1949 Act, set out in Legislative History note under section 244 of title 18]).

Amendments

1994-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, §§320109(2), 330016(1)(E), amended subsec. (a) identically, substituting "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $250".

Pub. L. 103–322, §320109(1), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, §320109(3), added subsec. (b).

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–442 inserted ", 6241, or 8741" after "3741".

1949-Act May 24, 1949, covered all service decorations awarded members of the armed forces by any of the armed services.