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32 C.F.R. § 578.16   Bronze Star Medal.

Title 32 - National Defense

Title 32: National Defense
PART 578—DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
General

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§ 578.16   Bronze Star Medal.

(a) Criteria. The Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419, February 4, 1944 (superseded by E.O. 11046, August 24, 1962 and amended by 10 U.S.C. 1133). It is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after December 7, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Per 10 U.S.C. 1133, award of the Bronze Star Medal is limited to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who receive imminent danger pay.

(1) Heroism. 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.

(2) Meritorious achievement and service. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit and meritorious service. The lesser degree than that required for the award of the LM, must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

(3) Awards may be made, by letter application to NPRC, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132–5100 (Soldiers who retired or were discharged after October 1, 2002 should send their requests to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, St. Louis, ATTN: AHRC–CC–B, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 63132–5200), enclosing documentary evidence, if possible, to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after December 6,1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between December 7, 1941 and September 2, 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has been otherwise confirmed by documents executed prior to July 1, 1947. For this purpose, an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical Badge is considered as a citation in orders. Documents executed since August 4, 1944 in connection with recommendations for the award of decorations of higher degree than the Bronze Star Medal will not be used to establish a basis for the award under this paragraph.

(4) Upon letter application, award of the Bronze Star Medal may be made to eligible soldiers who participated in the Philippine Islands Campaign between December 7, 1941 to May 10, 1942. Performance of duty must have been on the island of Luzon or the Harbor Defenses in Corregidor and Bataan. Only soldiers who were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (redesignated the Presidential Unit Citation on November 3, 1966) may be awarded this decoration. Letter application should be sent to NPRC (see paragraph (a)(3) of this section).

(b) Description. A bronze star 11/2 inches in circumscribing diameter. In the center thereof is a 3/16-inch diameter raised bronze star, the center line of all rays of both stars coinciding. The reverse has the inscription “Heroic or Meritorious Achievement.” The star is suspended by a rectangular-shaped loop with corners rounded from a moired silk ribbon 13/8 inches in length and 13/8 inches in width, composed of stripes of white (1/32-inch), red (9/16-inch), white (1/32-inch), blue (1/8-inch), white (1/32-inch), red (9/16-inch), and white (1/32-inch). A bronze block letter “V” 1/4 inch in height with serifs at the top of the members is worn on the suspension and service ribbons of the Bronze Star Medal to denote an award made for heroism (valor). Not more than one “V” device will be worn. When one or more oak-leaf clusters appear on the same ribbon the “V” device is worn on the wearer's right. (E.O. 9419, February 4, 1944, 9 FR 1495)

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