[Title 32 CFR 578.11]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter F - PERSONNEL]
[Part 578 - DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES]
[Sec. 578.11 - Bronze Star Medal.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01false578.11Sec. 578.11NATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYPERSONNELDECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Sec. 578.11  Bronze Star Medal.

    (a) Criteria. The Bronze Star Medal, established by Executive Order 
on February 4, 1944, is awarded to any person who, while serving in any 
capacity in or with the Army of the United States, on or after December 
7, 1941, shall have 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. See figure 1.
    (1) Heroism. Awards may be made for acts of heroism performed in 
actual ground combat against an armed enemy which are of lesser degree 
than required for the award of the Silver Star.
    (2) Meritorious achievement and service. (i) Awards may be made to 
recognize single acts of merit and 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.
    (ii) Awards may be made, upon letter application to The Adjutant 
General, to those members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, 
on or after December 7, 1941, have been awarded the Combat Infantryman 
Badge or Medical Badge for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an 
armed enemy between December 7, 1941 and September 2, 1945, inclusive, 
or whose meritorious achievement or exemplary conduct in ground combat 
against an armed enemy during such period has been otherwise confirmed 
in writing by documents executed prior to July 1, 1947. Documents which 
have been 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 of 
this decoration under the provisions of this paragraph.
    (b) Description. A bronze star 1\1/2\ 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 1\3/8\ inches in length and 1\3/8\ 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, Feb. 4, 1944, 9 FR 1495)