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Authorization. 10 U.S.C. 6241.

Eligibility Requirements

Awarded by the President in the name of Congress to members of the naval service who conspicuously distinguish themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.

(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

There must be no margin of doubt or possibility of error in awarding this honor. To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicuous above his or her comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his or her gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the individual to any justified criticism. The deed must be without detriment to the mission of the command or to the command to which attached.

Special Benefits for Medal of Honor Recipients

Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 560 establishes a roll designated as the "Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll" listing the name of each surviving person who has served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and has been awarded a Medal of Honor.

Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 561 provides that each person whose name is entered on the Medal of Honor Roll shall be furnished a certificate of service.

Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 562 requires the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay to each person whose name has been entered on the Medal of Honor Roll, a special pension of $400 per month.

Title 10 U.S. Code, Sections 4342, 6954, 9342 authorizes the appointment of children of persons who have been awarded the Medal of Honor as cadets at the U.S. Military and U.S. Air Force Academies, and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy without regard to quota requirements.

Medal of Honor recipients are authorized to travel in U.S. military aircraft on a spaceavailable basis, within the Continental United States, provided they certify that the trip is not for personal gain or remuneration.