Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal, unofficially the Bronze Star, is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Whenever the medal is awarded by the Army and Air Force for acts of valor in combat, the "V" Device is authorized for wear on the medal and whenever the medal is awarded by the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard for acts of valor or meritorious service in combat, the Combat "V" is authorized for wear on the medal.

Officers from the other Uniformed Services of the United States are eligible to receive this award, as are foreign soldiers who have served with or alongside a service branch of the United States Armed Forces.

General information

The Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 (superseded by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, as amended by Executive Order 13286, 28 February 2003). The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded by the Secretary of a military department or the Secretary of Homeland Security with regard to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy, or by such military commanders, or other appropriate officers as the Secretary concerned may designate, to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard of the United States, after 6 December 1941, distinguishes, or has distinguished, herself or himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight—

Service star

A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star ³⁄₁₆ inch in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the seven uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. The service star (³⁄₁₆ inch star) may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award is authorized the ³⁄₁₆ inch star and the manner in which the device is used for the award.

Service, campaign, and battle stars are worn with one point of the star pointing up on the suspension ribbon of a medal and or service ribbon. A silver ³⁄₁₆ inch star is worn instead of five bronze stars. A bronze or silver ³⁄₁₆ inch star is sometimes mistaken for a Bronze Star (Bronze Star Medal) or Silver Star (Silver Star Medal). The silver ³⁄₁₆ inch star is also similar to the silver ⁵⁄₁₆ inch star" which may be authorized to be worn on specific individual decorations to denote additional decorations.

Service stars

Expeditionary medals