10 U.S.C. § 7274: Medal of honor; distinguished-service cross; distinguished-service medal: limitations on award

No more than one distinguished-service cross or distinguished-service medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs. the award is made within five years after the date of the act justifying the award; a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made within three years after the distinguished service; and it appears from records of the Department of the Army that the person is entitled to the award. a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made and supported by sufficient evidence within three years after the distinguished service; and no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted on;