Presidential Unit Citation (US)
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| Presidential Unit Citation | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Awarded by United States Military | |
| Type | Ribbon and streamer |
| Eligibility | Military units |
| Awarded for | "[G]allantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions." |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1941 |
| Last awarded | Ongoing |
| Precedence | |
| Individual equivalent | Service Crosses: Army, Navy, Air ForceImage:TankLogo.JPG |
| Next lowest | Defense - Joint Meritorious Unit AwardImage:Tankandbranch.JPG Army - Valorous Unit AwardImage:Tanklogo.JPG Navy - Unit CommendationImage:Tankandbranch.JPG Air Force - Gallant Unit CitationImage:Tanklogo.JPG Coast Guard - Unit CommendationImage:Branchlogo.JPG |
| Streamers for the Presidential Unit Citation (top: USA and USAF PUC Streamer; bottom: Army and Air Force Streamer for the award of the Navy and Marine Corps PUC) | |
- Please see "Presidential Unit Citation" for other versions of this award
The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies 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. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.
Contents |
[edit] Army and Air Force
The Army citation was established as the Distinguished Unit Citation on 26 February 1942, and received its present name on 3 November 1966. 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 the Army and Air Force, the emblem itself is a solid blue ribbon enclosed in a gold frame. The Citation is carried on the unit's regimental colours in the form of a blue streamer, four feet long and 2 3/4 inches wide.
[edit] Navy and Marine
The Navy citation is the unit equivalent of a Navy Cross and was established on 6 February 1942.
The Navy version has blue, yellow, and red horizontal stripes. To distinguish between the two versions of the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy version is typically referred to as the Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation while the Army and Air Force refer to the decoration simply as the Presidential Unit Citation.
[edit] Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard units may be awarded either version of the Presidential Unit Citation, depending on which service the Coast Guard was supporting when the citation action was performed. A Coast Guard version of the award has been created for extraordinary peacetime operations and awarded to the entire U.S. Coast Guard, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, by President Bush for Hurricane Katrina rescue and relief operations.
[edit] Canadian Recipients
Two units of the Canadian Forces have been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the Korean War, and the War in Afghanistan. The second battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was awarded the Citation for its actions during the Battle of Kapyong in Korea where the Canadians were the only unit to hold their ground during a massive Chineses assault. The Canadian special operations unit, Joint Task Force Two was awarded the citation for its actions in the early months of the War in Afghanistan as part of the international special operations coaltion.
