10 U.S.C. § 8292

Navy cross

The President may award a Navy cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor—

(1)

while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(2)

while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(3)

while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

( Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041 , 70A Stat. 389 , § 6242; Pub. L. 88–77, § 2(2) , July 25, 1963 , 77 Stat. 94 ; renumbered § 8292, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(b)(13) , Aug. 13, 2018 , 132 Stat. 1836 .)