Bronze Star
Noun: 1. A United States military decoration: The Bronze Star is a specific medal awarded by the United States Armed Forces. It is given to recognize acts of heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. The reference context specifies it is awarded for meritorious service, excluding achievements during aerial flight.
- Noun:
- The soldier was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor during the ground assault.
- Her Bronze Star citation detailed her meritorious service in coordinating logistics under fire.
- Displaying his medals, he pointed to the Bronze Star and told the story of how he earned it.
- "Bronze Star with 'V' device": This denotes a specific variant of the medal. The addition of a "V" (for Valor) pin to the ribbon indicates the award was specifically for heroic or valorous action in direct combat, distinguishing it from an award for meritorious service or achievement.
- He received the Bronze Star with "V" device for charging an enemy position to save wounded comrades.
- Bronze Star Medal: The full, formal name of the decoration.
- Award, Decoration, Medal: General terms for honors given for service or achievement.
- Military decoration
- Service medal
The key distinction in the meaning of the Bronze Star lies in the type of service it recognizes and the presence or absence of the "V" device: 1. For Meritorious Service/Achievement: This is the broader category, as mentioned in the reference context. It rewards sustained performance or a specific non-combat achievement of a meritorious nature in a combat theater. 2. For Heroism or Valor (with "V" device): This is a higher-level recognition for a single act of heroism in direct combat against an enemy. It is a separate, specific criterion.
- a United States military decoration awarded for meritorious service (except in aerial flight)