1. Description: A bronze star 1 ½ inches in circumscribing
diameter. In the center thereof is a 3/16-inch diameter superimposed bronze star, the
center line of all rays of both stars coinciding. The reverse has the inscription
"HEROIC OR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT" and a space for the name of the recipient to
be engraved. The star is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular shaped metal loop with
the corners rounded.
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of
the following stripes: 1/32 inch white 67101; 9/16 inch scarlet 67111; 1/32 inch white;
center stripe 1/8 inch ultramarine blue 67118; 1/32 inch white; 9/16 inch scarlet; and
1/32 inch white.
3. Criteria: a. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any
person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States
after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious
achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an
action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations
involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or 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.
b. Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed
under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the
award of the Silver Star.
c. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of
merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree
than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been
meritorious and accomplished with distinction.
4. Components: The following are authorized components of
the Bronze Star Medal:
a. Decoration (regular size): MIL-D-3943/22. NSN for
decoration set is 8455-00-269-5749. NSN for replacement medal is 8455-00-246-3829.
b. Decoration (miniature size): MIL-D-3943/22. NSN
8455-00-996-5004.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/18. NSN 8455-00-252-9915.
d. Lapel Button: MIL-R-11484/16. NSN
8455-00-265-4889.
5. Background: a. General George C. Marshall, in a
memorandum to President Roosevelt dated February 3, 1944, wrote: "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. The award of the Air Medal have had an adverse reaction on the
ground troops, particularly the Infantry Riflemen who are now suffering the heaviest
losses, air or ground, in the Army, and enduring the greatest hardships." The Air
Medal had been adopted two years earlier to raise airmen’s morale.
b. President Roosevelt authorized the Bronze Star
Medal by Executive Order 9419 dated 4 February 1944, retroactive to 7 December 1941. This
authorization was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 3, dated 10 February 1944. The
Executive Order was amended by President Kennedy, per Executive Order 11046 dated 24
August 1962, to expand the authorization to include those serving with friendly forces.
c. As a result of a study conducted in 1947, the
policy was implemented that authorized the retroactive award of the Bronze Star Medal to
soldiers who had received the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge during
World War II. The basis for doing this was that the badges were awarded only to soldiers
who had borne the hardships which resulted in General Marshall’s support of the
Bronze Star Medal. Both badges required a recommendation by the commander and a citation
in orders.
d. Order of precedence and wear of decorations is
contained in Army Regulation 670-1. Policy for awards, approving authority, supply, and
issue of decorations is contained in AR 600-8-22.
