Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
| Presidential Unit Citation | |
|---|---|
     |
|
| Awarded by United States Armed Forces | |
| Type | Ribbon (decoration) |
| Eligibility | Military units |
| Awarded for | "Gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions." |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1941 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Navy and Marine Corps – Combat Action Ribbon Air Force – Air Force Combat Action Medal Coast Guard – Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon |
| Individual equivalent |
Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Coast Guard Cross |
| Next (lower) | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
   Streamers: Army and Air Force Navy and Marine Corps Coast Guard |
|
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of American involvement in World War II). The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.
Since its inception by Executive Order on 26 February 1942, retroactive to 7 December 1941, to 2008, the Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded in conflicts such as World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.
The collective degree of valor (combat heroism) against an armed enemy by the unit nominated for the PUC is the same as that which would warrant award of the individual award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross or Navy Cross. In some cases, one or more individuals within the unit may have also been awarded individual awards for their contribution to the actions for which their entire unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The unit with the most Presidential Unit Citations is the USS Parche (SSN-683) with 9 citations.
The Army citation was established by on 26 February 1942, superseded by on Dec. 2, 1943, which authorized the Distinguished Unit Citation. As with other Army unit citations, the PUC is in a larger frame than other ribbons, and is worn above the right pocket. All members of the unit may wear the decoration, whether or not they personally participated in the acts for which the unit was cited. Only those assigned to the unit at the time of the action cited may wear the decoration as a permanent award. For both the Army and Air Force, the emblem is a solid blue ribbon enclosed in a gold frame.
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