BRONZE STAR

     a. Authorization.  E. O. 11046, 24 August 1962.
 
     b. Eligibility requirements
 
          1. Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself after 6 December 1941, by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in arial flight.
 
               (a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
 
               (b) while engaged in military operation involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
 
               (c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed forces in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
 
          (2) 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. Minor acts of heroism in actual combat, single acts of merit or meritorious service connection with military or naval operations may justify this award.
 
     c. Combat Distinguishing Device. The Combat Distinguishing Device me be authorized.
 

The Bronze Star Medal began with a suggestion from General George C. Marshall that a decoration be established that would be within the reach of enlisted men-particularly infantrymen, who face the hardships and dangers of combat on a daily basis.

Marshall outlined his ideas in a memo to President Roosevelt on February 3, 1944, and the following day the President signed Executive Order 9419 authorizing the Bronze Star Medal. Award of the Bronze Star Medal can be made for acts of Valor in combat or for acts of meritorious service within a combat theater.

In 1947 award of the Bronze Star Medal was authorized retroactively for every soldier who had been awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge or the Combat Medic's Badge during World War II.
 
 When the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for acts of combat valor, a bronze "V" device is attached to both the suspension ribbon and the ribbon bar. Additional awards of the Bronze Star Medal are recognized by the addition of an Oak Leaf Cluster to the ribbon.

 In 1947 award of the Bronze Star Medal without the "V" device was authorized for personnel  who had been awarded the Combat Infantrymen's Badge and the Combat Medic Badge during  World War II. More recently, retroactive award of the Bronze Star Medal was authorized for  the defenders of Bataan.