Sizes: Ribbon: Standard - Lapel Pin: 11/16"
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 Navy Presidential Unit Citation was established by Executive Order 9050 on 6 February 1942. The Navy version has navy blue, gold, and red horizontal stripes, and is the only Navy ribbon having horizontal stripes.
To distinguish between the two versions of the Presidential Unit
Citation, the Navy version which is more often referred to simply as the
Presidential Unit Citation, is referred to as the Navy Presidential
Unit Citation and sometimes as the "Navy and Marine Corps Presidential
Unit Citation", the Army and Air Force version is referred to by the
Army and Air Force as the Army Presidential Unit Citation and Air Force
Presidential Unit Citation. The ribbon is worn by only by those Navy and
Marine service members who were assigned to the unit for the "award
period" of the award. In the Army, those who join the unit after the
"award period" may also wear it while assigned to the unit. ALNan 137-43
states that the first award has a blue enameled star on the ribbon and
additional stars for subsequent awards. In 1949, the award changed with no star for the first award and bronze stars for subsequent awards.
