The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award. Like the colors of the American flag, the colors of the. For those who receive the BSM, it is a signal of their sacrifice, bravery and honor while serving their country. DEFENSE SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL. Colonel Reeder saw this medal as the ground version of the Air Medal and first introduced the name "Ground Medal". 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Chapman Jr. (24th Commandant of the Marine Corps), Joseph S. Clark Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia), Erastus Corning 2nd (Mayor of Albany, New York), Robert E. Cushman Jr.(25th Commandant of the Marine Corps), Maurice R. Greenberg (CEO of American International Group (AIG)), Colin Powell (65th US Secretary of State), Elliot Richardson (11th US Secretary of Defense), Rod Serling (Writer and creator of The Twilight Zone), Raymond P. Shafer (Governor of Pennsylvania). When awarded for heroism, the Bronze Star Medal is annotated by a bronze "V" device (to designate valor). The medal may be awarded either for meritorious service. From that moment on the medal could also be awarded to any member of the United States Army that were mentioned in orders after December 6th, 1941 or who had received a certificate for exceptional service in goundbattle against an armed enemy between December 7th, 1941 and September 2nd, 1945 or whos merit could be proven by documents dated before July 1st, 1947. To warrant this distinctive decoration, the act or the execution of duty must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to set the individual apart from his shipmates or fellow Marines. Distinguished Service Cross (Army) Service Cross Medal. It established a, retroactive precedent for service members. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. On the reverse of the star is the inscription, HEROIC OR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT, along with the recipients name. Your email address will not be published. & BORTS L.H., A complete guide to all United States Military Medals 1939 to Present, MOA Press, Fountain Inn, 2005, Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright. In the middle there can be found another bronze star with a diametre of 3/16 inch (4,8 mm). (a) Clearly exceed that which is normally required or expected, considering the individuals grade or rate, training, and experience; and Copyright 2023 Medals of America. The medal is a bronze star112inches (38mm) in circumscribing diameter. In fact, his original name for the award was the Ground Medal. Instituted: 1944 and is retroactive to 7 Dec. 1941, Criteria: The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to individuals who, while serving in the United States Armed Forces in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or by meritorious service not involving aerial flight. [16][17] The following ribbon devices must be specifically authorized in the award citation in order to be worn on the Bronze Star Medal, the criteria for and wear of the devices vary between the services: Colonel Russell P. "Red" Reeder conceived the idea of the Bronze Star Medal in 1943; he believed it would aid morale if captains of companies or of batteries could award a medal to deserving people serving under them. (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or When the medal is awarded by the Army and Air Force for acts of valor in combat, theV Deviceis authorized for wear on the medal. Medal of Honor. The conditions for earning the BSM would change thanks to President John F. Kennedy, who amended Executive Order 9419 through Executive Order 11046, 1962. The ribbon is red and is bisected by a thin vertical dark blue stripe flanked by a thinner white stripe on either side. Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients? The medal is a bronze star 1 12 inches (38 mm) in circumscribing diameter. The Bronze Star is a military award that indicates a U.S. service member has performed heroically and/or meritoriously. Learn more about this military medal here. The decoration measures 1,5 inch (38 mm) over all. To justify this decoration, accomplishment or performance of duty above that normally expected, and sufficient to distinguish the individual among those performing comparable duties is required, although less than the requirements for the Silver Star or Legion of Merit. Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past? 9419 on Feb. 4, 1944, is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the armed forces of the United States on or after Dec. 7, 1941, shall have distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation As a reminder, the use of the "V" device on the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award is only authorized for the period of Jan. 11, 1996 to Jan. 1, 2014. Each white stripe measures inches, each scarlet stripe measures inches, and the center blue stripe measures inches. 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 Department of 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, Space 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. The Bronze Star is a military award that indicates a U.S. service member has performed heroically and/or meritoriously. (NOTE: The establishment of the Gallant Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Award warranted the discontinuance of the "V" device being authorized for approved USAF unit awards). The Bronze Star, awarded for meritorious service or acts of valor while serving in combat operations, is the ninth-highest military award in order of precedence of overall U.S. military decorations. The reverse bears the inscription "HEROIC OR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT" with a space for the name of the recipient to be engraved. (6) As the result of friendly weapon fire while actively engaging the enemy. Devices: Bronze Letter. Civilians also are eligible to receive the Bronze Star. Meritorious or heroic acts during aerial flight are disqualified from this award. The fact that the ground troops, Infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must close in personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance. For his prosecution of court martial cases as well as federal court cases involving procurement fraud and military medals fraud, DeSantis was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. COAST GUARD MEDAL. Answer (1 of 15): All I want to say is that the Bronze Star Medal has been awarded since 1944, retroactively to 1941, by the US Military to soldiers who distinguish themselves by heroism or meritorious efforts in combat. The Bronze Star Medal ( BSM) is a United States Armed Forces 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 . U.S. Air Force graphic by Staff Sgt. These devices include: The Bronze Star requires a commander to recommend the service member to receive the medal, along with a citation in their orders. The Air Medal had been adopted two years earlier to raise airmen's morale. The acts of merit or acts of valor must be less than that required for the Legion of Merit but must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction. (9) After 28 March 1973, as a result of international terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S. All but 60 were awarded to officers, and only 16 of those awarded were actually in the combat zone. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR VALOR V DEVICE. The Bronze Star Medal, or BSM, dates back to World War II. To qualify, service members must perform these acts during an armed conflict against an enemy of the United States. The decoration could be awarded to any military who, serving within or together with the army of the United States after 6th December 1941, decorating himself by heoric or meritorious deeds as military, not participating in air operations, during military operations against an armed enemy or during an armed conflict in which the United States was not participating as a beligirent. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, after December 6, 1941, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight. The Bronze Star Medal was originally established by Executive Order on 4 February 1944. (or drapery) represent the values of purity, perseverance and bravery. There are star devices that denote the number of conflicts the recipient participated in and received awards in. 5/16 inch star In theNavyandMarine CorpsandCoast Guard. There are three categories for which the medal is awarded: The medal can be earned through heroic achievement or heroic service that shows extraordinary bravery and courage during combat operations. TracesOfWar.com tells you more! (2) In action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged. The back bears the inscription "HEROIC OR MERITIOUS ACHIEVEMENT" and a space to ingrave the recipients name. All Rights Reserved. Required fields are marked *. (c) Reflect most creditably on the efforts of the individual toward the accomplishment of the unit mission. Download the TracesOfWar app directly on, Australia (1901-present, Federal Monarchy), Belgium (1830-present, Constitutional Monarchy), Canada (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy), Soviet Union (1922-1991, People's Republic), Allsopp, Henry Richard, 5th Baron Hindlip, FOSTER, C.F. [13] (Freund also designed the Silver Star. The achievement should be such as to constitute a definite contribution to the naval service, such as an invention, or improvement in design, procedure, or organization. There are only three combat military awards, currently, that rank higher than the Bronze Star: The medal is awarded for acts of heroism or meritorious service which are of a lesser degree than those described by the Silver Star award. Even civilians can earn the badge if they act like a service member and fight the enemy or save a wounded soldier. This allowed the expansion of qualifying criteria to include those serving with friendly militaries. The president instituted the medal the very next day. Please enter your email address below to create account. Both badges required a recommendation by the commander and a citation in orders. It is earned for extraordinary action and service performed in an armed conflict. The Combat Distinguishing Device may be authorized. Inscribed on this are the words Heroic or Meritorious Achievement, encircling a blank space for the recipient's name. Worthy of special recognition, but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal when combat is involved or the Navy and Marine Corps Medal when combat is not involved. The Purple Heart: Americas Oldest Decoration Still Awarded Today, Sergeant Stubby and Sergeant Reckless, Decorated Dog and Horse, Wesley Fox: The Marine Who Worked His Way Up From Private to Colonel, Small-town Nurse Ellen Ainsworth Died Saving Patients in World War II, John McCain: A Lifetime of Service to America. (5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force. There must be no margin of doubt or possibility of error in awarding this honor. Related Article 12 Most Famous US Marines. In addition to establishing the Bronze Star as a military award, the order became a retroactive precedent for service members dating back to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Service stars are approximately 3/16th of an inch in size and are attached to the ribbon of the respective campaign medal of the recipient. The medal is awarded in three categories: valor, merit and achievement. While he received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star after he returned home from battle, he wanted commanders in the field to have a way to award ground soldiers immediatelyespecially those who had been in the line of duty for an extended period. Wear of a V device on the medal is authorized for acts of valor in combat. The medal is awarded in three categories: valor, merit and achievement. The suspension ribbon is 1+38 inches (35mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 132 inch (0.79mm) white 67101; 916 inch (14mm) scarlet 67111; 132 inch (0.79mm) white; center stripe 18 inch (3.2mm) ultramarine blue 67118; 132 inch (0.79mm) white; 916 inch (14mm) scarlet; and 132 inch (0.79mm) white.[15]. Combat "V" In the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the "V" is worn to denote combat heroism or to recognize individuals who are "exposed to personal hazard during direct participation in combat operations". The Bronze Star Medal recognizes service members who show acts of heroism in the field, or who are meritorious in their work. As a result, non-U.S. troops were honored with the Bronze Star in World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and Afghanistan. Here are 7 things to know about this prestigious military award. (8) As the result of maltreatment inflicted by their captors while a prisoner of war. This medal was developed and instituted during World War II, and it has been awarded to thousands of recipients since for serving their country. Officially Hallmarked and approved by the U.S. Institute of Heraldry, Official military grade, premium qualityfull size medal, Medal and ribbon made to the highest official government standards, Made, inspected, and shipped by Veterans in the USA, Standard 2 prong and clutch back, uniform approved, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. They include: Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News. [9], 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). As a result of a study conducted in 1947, a policy was implemented that authorized the retroactive award of the Bronze Star Medal (without the "V" device) to all soldiers who had received the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge during World War II. The Bronze Star was envisioned as the infantryman's equivalent of the Air Medal, so it is often referred to as the Ground Medal. Distinguished Service Cross, National Order of Vietnam, Commendation Medal, Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Bernard William Rogers (July 16, 1921 October 27, 2008) was a United States Army general who served as the 28th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and later as NATO's Supreme Allied. They must be less than what is required to earn the Legion of Merit, but must still be recognized as valor, meritorious service, etc. Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with an Armed Force of the United States after 5 April 1917, has been killed or wounded. Bernard W. Rogers and Billy Waugh are two examples of the honored military award recipients on this list. [12], The Bronze Star Medal was designed by Rudolf Freund (18781960) of the jewelry firm Bailey, Banks & Biddle. It also recognizes single acts of merit and meritorious service if the achievement or service is of a lesser degree than that deemed worthy of the Legion of Merit; but such service must have been accomplished with distinction. Service members earn a Bronze Star medal through a heroic act(s) in the field or through meritorious work. The Bronze Star is a 1-inch diameter star made of bronze and it hangs from a red ribbon with a vertical blue stripe surrounded by thin vertical white stripes. A Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest ranking award that a service member can receive in the U.S. military. When it is awarded for acts of heroism, the medal is awarded with the "V" device attached. A number of Bronze Star Medals with the "V" device were awarded to veterans of the Battle of Mogadishu. Here are other criteria for actions that determine how a Bronze Star is earned: A Bronze Star with a V denote valor or bravery during combat actions against an enemy force. Since 1944 the medal has been awarded to tens of thousands of military perso. Bronze Stars were awarded to well known veterans such as news personality Andy Rooney, Senator John McCain and writer and columnist James Brady. Want 30+ Military / Veteran Discounts to use today? Distinguished Service Medal. BRONZE STAR. (1) In action against an enemy of the United States. It's given either for meritorious service or combat action. For the campaign attachment, see, "Bronze Star" redirects here. Recipients of this medal have performed a heroic and/or meritorious deed in armed conflict. Any opinions are those of the author alone, and not those of an advertiser to the site nor of Veteran.com. 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