I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4369
To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the 
Army to establish a combat service recognition ribbon, similar to the 
Navy Combat Action Ribbon, to recognize participation in combat by 
members of the Army, regardless of branch. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2004
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. HUNTER, and 
Mr. SKELTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Sec-
retary of the Army to establish a combat service recogni-
tion ribbon, similar to the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, 
to recognize participation in combat by members of the 
Army, regardless of branch.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Army Combat Recogni-
tion Act of 2004’’.
SEC. 2. ARMY COMBAT RECOGNITION RIBBON. 
(a) REQUIREMENT SIMILAR
TO THAT
FOR NAVY 
COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.—(1) Chapter 357 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 3757. Combat recognition ribbon 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Army 
shall establish a combat recognition ribbon to recognize 
participation by members of the Army in combat. The Sec-
retary shall award the combat recognition ribbon to each 
member of the Army who meets the criteria for that rib-
bon based upon service performed after August 1, 1990. 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR AWARD.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish the criteria for award of the combat recognition 
ribbon. To the maximum extent practicable, the criteria 
for the award of such ribbon shall be based upon, and 
be similar to, the criteria for award of the Navy Combat 
Action Ribbon, including any special criteria for service 
during a particular period of time or in a specific location. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—The combat recognition ribbon 
may not be awarded to a member of the Army with respect 
to the same period of service as service for which the mem-
ber was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or the 
Combat Medic Badge.’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:
‘‘3757. Combat recognition ribbon.’’.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION FOR SERVICE BEFORE DATE 
OF ENACTMENT.—The Secretary of the Army shall estab-
lish procedures to provide for the implementation of sec-
tion 3757 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), with respect to service during the period 
beginning on August 1, 1990, and ending on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. Such procedures shall include 
a requirement for submission of an application for award 
of a ribbon under that section with respect to service be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act and the fur-
nishing of such information as the Secretary may specify. 
Such procedures shall be established not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Æ
SEC. 2. ARMY COMBAT RECOGNITION RIBBON. 
(a) REQUIREMENT SIMILAR
TO THAT
FOR NAVY 
COMBAT ACTION RIBBBON.—(1) Chapter 357 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 3757. Combat recognition ribbon 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Army 
shall establish a combat recognition ribbon to recognize 
participation by members of the Army in combat. The Sec-
retary shall award the combat recognition ribbon to each 
member of the Army who meets the criteria for that rib-
bon based upon service performed after August 1, 1990. 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR AWARD.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish the criteria for award of the combat recognition 
ribbon. To the maximum extent practicable, the criteria 
for the award of such ribbon shall be based upon, and 
be similar to, the criteria for award of the Navy Combat 
Action Ribbon, including any special criteria for service 
during a particular period of time or in a specific location. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—The combat recognition ribbon 
may not be awarded to a member of the Army with respect 
to the same period of service as service for which the mem-
ber was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or the 
Combat Medic Badge.’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item: 
‘‘3757. Combat recognition ribbon.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION FOR SERVICE BEFORE DATE 
OF ENACTMENT.—The Secretary of the Army shall estab-
lish procedures to provide for the implementation of sec-
tion 3757 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), with respect to service during the period 
beginning on August 1, 1990, and ending on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. Such procedures shall include 
a requirement for submission of an application for award 
of a ribbon under that section with respect to service be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act and the fur-
nishing of such information as the Secretary may specify. 
Such procedures shall be established not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ