Presidential Unit Citation (United States)

Presidential Unit Citation
Army PUC
U.S. Army
Navy and Marine
U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
Air Force PUC
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
Coast Guard PUC
U.S. Coast Guard
USPHS Presidential Unit Citation
U.S. Public Health Service
TypeRibbon (decoration)
Awarded for"Gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions."[1]
Presented byUnited States Department of the Army[2]
United States Department of the Navy[3]
United States Department of the Air Force[4]
United States Department of Homeland Security[5]
EligibilityMilitary units
StatusCurrently awarded
First awarded1941


Streamers:
Top; Army, Air Force, and Space Force
Middle; Navy and Marine Corps
Bottom; Coast Guard
Precedence
Next (higher)Army: Army Achievement Medal
Naval Service: Combat Action Ribbon
Air and Space Forces: 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

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 President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the signing of Executive Order 9075 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 units with the most Presidential Unit Citations are submarine USS Parche (SSN-683) and the 1st Marine Division, both with nine citations.[6]

  1. ^ "Chapter 7 United States Unit Awards" (PDF). Army Regulation 600–8–22. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. 2011. p. 80. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Production publication" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Data" (PDF). media.defense.gov. 2017.
  6. ^ Tinoko, PO2 Maebel (2007-08-29). "USS Parche Dedicates Sail to Puget Sound Navy Museum NNS070828-19". Navy News Service. Retrieved 2014-06-05.