United States 🪖 Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal [Full]
Condition: Excellent/Mint
About the United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal one of the United States' most distinguished military honours🎖👇
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is one of the United States' most distinguished military honours.
🎖 Purpose and Significance
Rank: It is a prestigious combat-only award, sitting just below the Silver Star.
Valor vs. Merit: It recognizes acts of heroism (valor) or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Scope: It is awarded to members of all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as qualifying foreign military members and civilians.
📋 Criteria for Award
- To be eligible, a service member must distinguish themselves through specific actions while serving in a combat theater:
- Heroic Achievement: A single act of bravery that does not meet the criteria for a Silver Star.
- Meritorious Service: Sustained exceptional performance over a period of time in a combat zone
🎨 Design and Features
The medal was designed by Rudolf Freund of the firm Bailey, Banks and Biddle.
The Star: A 1.5-inch wide bronze five-pointed star featuring a smaller raised star in its center.
The Reverse: Inscribed with "HEROIC OR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT" with a space for the recipient's name.
The Ribbon: Predominantly red, bisected by a thin vertical dark blue stripe, which is flanked by two thinner white stripes.
History and Inception
Origin: Established on February 4, 1944, by Executive Order 9419 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Retroactive Power: It was made retroactive to December 7, 1941, to cover acts of heroism from the start of WWII.
Retroactive Eligibility (1947): Army personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical Badge during WWII were later authorized to receive the Bronze Star upon application.
Expansion (1962): President Kennedy expanded the criteria to include those serving with friendly foreign forces.
🌍 Present Day Status
Active Award: The Bronze Star remains an active and frequently awarded decoration in the current U.S. military awards system.
Modern Conflicts: It has been awarded extensively to service members for actions in recent conflicts, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Market Value
In South Africa, the market value for a standalone U.S. military Bronze Star Medal typically ranges between R950 and R1,500.
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![United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal [Full]](https://img.bobshop.co.za/f_auto,q_auto:eco,d_notfound.png/user/5171160/Picture8_eJSD5i8a3.png)
![United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal [Full]](https://img.bobshop.co.za/f_auto,q_auto:eco,d_notfound.png/user/5171160/Picture9_bGc_KpOWO.png)
![United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal [Full]](https://img.bobshop.co.za/f_auto,q_auto:eco,d_notfound.png/user/5171160/Picture15_AK5Ez0kOR.png)
![United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal [Full]](https://img.bobshop.co.za/f_auto,q_auto:eco,d_notfound.png/user/5171160/161215-F-YG475-509_PTuVpywHQ.jfif)
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