PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 112 STAT. 2015 Subtitle D—Decorations, Awards, and Commendations SEC. 531. STUDY OF NEW DECORATIONS FOR INJURY OR DEATH IN LINE OF DUTY. (a) STUDY OF NEED AND CRITERIA FOR NEW DECORATION. — (1) The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a study of the need for, and the the appropriate criteria for, two possible new decorations. (2) The first such decoration would, if implemented, be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with the Armed Forces, are killed or injured in the line of duty as a result of noncombat circumstances occurring— (A) as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States; (B) while engaged in, training for, or traveling to or from a peacetime or contingency operation; or (C) while engaged in, training for, or traveling to or from service outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force. (3) The second such decoration would, if implemented, be awarded to civilian nationals of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with the Armed Forces, are killed or injured in the line of duty under circumstances which, if they were members of the Armed Forces, would qualify them for award of the Purple Heart or the medal described in paragraph (2). (b) RECOMMENDATION TO CONGRESS. —Not later than July 31, 1999, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the Secretary's recommendation concerning the need for, and propriety of, each of the possible new decorations referred to in subsection (a). (c) COORDINATION.— The Secretary shall carry out this section in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Transportation with regard to the Coast Guard. SEC. 532. WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS FOR AWARD OF CERTAIN DECORATIONS TO CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) WAIVER.— Any limitation established by law or policy for the time within which a recommendation for the award of a military decoration or award must be submitted shall not apply to awards of decorations described in this section, the award of each such decoration having been determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned to be warranted in accordance with section 1130 of title 10, United States Code. (b) DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS. —Subsection (a) applies to the award of the Distinguished-Service Cross of the Army as follows: (1) To Isaac Caniacho of El Paso, Texas, for extraordinary heroism in actions at Camp Hiep Hoa in Vietnam on November 24, 1963, while serving as a member of the Army. (2) To Bruce P. Crandall of Mesa, Arizona, for extraordinary heroism in actions at Landing Zone X-Ray in Vietnam on November 14, 1965, while serving as a member of the Army.
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