Editing Bronze Star Medal (section)

==General information==
The Bronze Star Medal was established by [[Executive Order]] 9419, 4 February 1944 (superseded by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, as amended by Executive Order 13286, 28 February 2003).<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/julqtr/32cfr578.16.htm |title=[[Code of Federal Regulations]] |chapter=Title 32, Volume 3, Section 578.16 Bronze Star Medal |pages=390–391 |date=1 January 2008 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314141417/http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/julqtr/32cfr578.16.htm |archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Bronze Star.jpeg|thumbnail|right|Lieutenant Mark Dye being awarded the Bronze Star]] -->
The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded by the Secretary of a military department or the Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] with regard to the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] when not operating as a service in the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], or by such military commanders, or other appropriate officers as the Secretary concerned may designate, to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the [[United States Army|Army]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], or [[United States Space Force|Space Force]] of the United States, after 6 December 1941, distinguishes, or has distinguished, herself or himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight—
:(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
:(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
:(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The acts of heroism are of a lesser degree than required for the award of the [[Silver Star]]. The acts of merit or acts of valor must be less than that required for the [[Legion of Merit]] but must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

The Bronze Star Medal (without the "V" device) may be awarded to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. For this purpose, the US Army's [[Combat Infantryman Badge]] or [[Combat Medical Badge]] award is considered as a citation in orders. Documents executed since 4 August 1944 in connection with recommendations for the award of decorations of higher degree than the Bronze Star Medal cannot be used as the basis for an award under this paragraph.

Effective 11 September 2001, the [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] may also be bestowed in lieu of the Bronze Star Medal (without Combat "V" device) for meritorious achievement in a designated combat theater.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title32-vol3/xml/CFR-2008-title32-vol3-sec578-18.xml |title=Code of Federal Regulations |chapter=Title 32, Volume 3, Section 578.18 Meritorious Service Medal |date=1 July 2008 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108004148/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title32-vol3/xml/CFR-2008-title32-vol3-sec578-18.xml |archive-date=8 November 2012}}</ref>