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Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

The Bronze Star Medal was officially instituted by Executive Order 9419 on February 4th, 1944. It was based on the idea of Colonel Russell P. "Red" Reeder in 1943. He had launched the thought that it was good for the morale of the military when there was a decoration that could be awarded by Captains of a Company or Battery to the personnel who served under their command. Colonel Reeder saw this medal as the ground version of the Air Medal and first introduced the name "Ground Medal". At first the decoration was to be instituted with the U.S. Navy to be given to ground and surface personnel for heroic or meritorious deeds. For unknown reasons the institution did not occur. The idea was picked up by General George C. Marshall who wrote a memorandum to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The president instituted the medal the very next day.

The decoration could be awarded to any military who, serving within or together with the army of the United States after 6th December 1941, decorating himself by heoric or meritorious deeds as military, not participating in air operations, during military operations against an armed enemy or during an armed conflict in which the United States was not participating as a beligirent. The decoration could be awarded for the discribed heroic actions, not sufficient to be awarded the Silver Star or for meritorious actions or meritorious acting of service, which did not qualify for the awarding of the Legion of Merit. In 1947 the possibilities for awarding were enlarged. From that moment on the medal could also be awarded to any member of the United States Army that were mentioned in orders after December 6th, 1941 or who had received a certificate for exceptional service in goundbattle against an armed enemy between December 7th, 1941 and September 2nd, 1945 or who’s merit could be proven by documents dated before July 1st, 1947. This made it possible to award the Bronze Star to any person who had received the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge.
The Bronze Star can also be obtained by veterans or next of kinn. Military that took part in the struggle on the Philippines between December 7th, 1941 and May,10th 1942 could receive the medal when the action took place on Luzon, the Bataan peninsula or the Harbour Defences on Corregidor Island and were entitled to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Military who had received the Purple Heart during the early days of the Second World War specifically for merit and not for wounds could in some occasions also exchange the Purple Heart for the Bronze Star. To any foreign soldier that fought in close coöperation with the United States Army, the decoration could also be awarded.

The Bronze Star Medal was designed by Rudolf Freund of Bailey, Banks and Biddle who also designed the Silver Star. The decoration measures 1,5 inch (38 mm) over all. In the middle there can be found another bronze star with a diametre of 3/16 inch (4,8 mm). All radials in the centre of both stars continue in one each other. The back bears the inscription "HEROIC OR MERITIOUS ACHIEVEMENT" and a space to ingrave the recipients name.

The medal hangs on a ribbon with a square loop and rounded corners. The ribbon measures 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) wide. Left and right can be fond a 1/32 inch (1 mm) wide white line, followed to the inside by a scarlet 9/16 inch (14 mm) broad band. In the middel can be fond an ultramarine blue band measuring 1/8 inch (3 mm) flanked by two 1/32 inch (1 mm) lines.

Every next Bronze Star awarded was to be shown by a bronze oak leaf cluster (US Army, Air Corps and Air Force) or a golden star (US Navy, Marines and Coast Guard). At every fifth award, the bronze and golden were replaced by a a silver oak leaf cluster or silver star. A bronze "V" for "Valor" was awarded when the Bronze Star was received for heoism in battle, thus distincting the award from the Bronze Stars warded for merit. This "V" was introduced in 1945. The action it was to be awarded for had to be of significant value. Only one "V" was permitted to be worn on the ribbon.

Abrams, Creighton Williams, Jr.* September 15th, 1914
† September 4th, 1974

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Adams, Lucian* October 26th, 1922
† March 31st, 2003
Plot: AI Grave: 555

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Adler, Samuel Ludwig "Sam" (US Army)* October 4th, 1910
† April 20th, 1945
Plot: F Row: 11 Grave: 26

Grid List
NameDate of birthDate of deathAwards
Cornett, Marvin  
Chase, Charles Henry14-08-191011-03-1981more
Clay, Lucius Dubignon23-04-189716-04-1978more
Cano, Pedro19-06-192024-06-1952more
Coakley, Walter Aloysius (jr.)07-02-192017-03-1945
Clark, Mark Wayne01-05-189617-04-1984more
Corkran, Sewell H.  
Caserta, Joseph J. "Tanker Joe", Sr.04-05-192205-02-2021
Collins, William J.  
Creek, Roy E.12-02-191810-10-2016
Crépin, Jean01-09-190804-05-1996more
Crim, William.L04-12-192125-06-1997more
Colcord, Herbert N., Jr.09-07-192515-11-2020more
Chase, William Curtis09-03-189521-08-1986
Cochenour, James A.  
Cox, X.B.12-02-191504-11-2014more
Chiappetta, Paul A.17-02-192218-02-2006
Carroll, Francis Leo  
Campbell, William Tait00-00-191200-00-1999
Cunningham, William Hays (Bill)15-06-190604-01-1980
Chambers, Doyle A. 00-01-1997
Calhoun, William T.  
Crawford, Joseph Brice02-07-190808-11-1987more
Cunin, Camille17-01-191204-05-2004more
Corta, Renaud de02-02-191520-02-1979more
Colmay, Constant14-10-190325-11-1965more
Cushman, Robert Everton, Jr.24-12-191402-01-1985more
Chenailler, Paul06-05-190417-06-1960more
Chilson, Llewellyn M.01-04-192000-00-1981more
Carcassone-Leduc, Roger12-01-191110-12-1991more
Coolidge, Charles Henry04-08-192106-04-2021more
Chamberlin, William Charles "Bill"10-02-191628-06-1996more
Clement, William Tardy27-09-189417-10-1955more
Chunn, Calvin Ellsworth08-04-191504-06-1983
Cain, Paul J.05-04-191513-08-2014
Cubbage, Joseph M.  
Cornett, James A.  
Corder, Roscoe E.  
Conner, Garlin Murl02-06-191905-11-1998more
Cota, Norman Daniel "Dutch"30-05-189304-10-1971more
Craig, George Hugh  
Cockerton, Arthur Edmund  
Cole, William Scott  
Cummins, Walter Anthony  
Cooke, William  
Costello, John J. 01-12-1944
Chrudimsky, Earl W.26-04-192509-02-2020more
Cobb, Roy W.18-06-191400-01-1990more
Cox, James H.16-01-191728-01-2009more
Chriske, Heinz H.  
Carey, Charles F., Jr.23-12-191509-01-1945
Carp, Albert A.  
Cole, Chaunsey D.  
Carstensen, William H.  
Casto, Edward24-08-192129-08-2008
Crews, John A.  
Cowan, Lynn F.  
Costanza, Frank J.  
Chapman, Lawrence J.  
Callanan, David W.  
Cunningham, Robert F.30-04-192102-02-2011
Cockroft, Robert S.  
Camm, Frank Ambler08-01-189516-12-1976more
Counts, Donald L. 06-04-1945
Covington, John Alfred  
Cashell, Joseph H.26-05-192310-06-1961
Carter, Edward, A. Jr.26-05-191630-01-1963more
Choate, Clyde Lee28-06-192010-10-2001
Crowling, John 15-12-1944
Cotton, Chandler00-00-1921 
Cortez, Daniel24-06-192616-12-1944more
Cerrato, Rocco F.01-02-1916 more
Carroll, William A.10-03-191507-05-1964
Crossman, Raymond M.  
Courtemanche, Harry D. 16-10-1944
Casteel, Frank 13-10-1944
Capron, Jan  
Carlson, Sivert J.12-04-192211-04-1945more
Champeny, Arthur Seymour13-08-189311-04-1979more
Campbell, William Archibald27-12-188718-08-1971
Copeland, Scott  
Copeland, Edgar P.  
Castella, Donald Joseph  
Clay, Willard L. 22-10-1944
Ceynowa, Paul P.  
Cathey, John W.  
Conway, Stanley00-00-190500-00-1967
Currey, Francis Sherman "Frank"29-06-192508-10-2019more
Colburn, Edward R.  
Cutter, Slade Deville01-11-191109-06-2005more
Crook, Cecil Earl16-03-192623-06-2001
Campbell, Colin23-11-189526-07-1970more
Chapman, Elbridge Gerry, Jr.20-11-189506-07-1954more
Calder, James H.  
Christel, George A.21-04-191830-04-1945more
Crouch, Edwin Mason "Eddie"02-02-190030-07-1945
Chapman, James Price22-04-191922-11-2003
Cabahug, Uldarico P.04-07-1924 
Cadien, Walter B.  
Cahoon, Pat  
Calhoun, Harvey F.  
Callahan, John R.  
Callahan, Robert   
Camp, Cecil A.13-05-1914 
Campbell, Albert  
Campbell, John, Jr. (134th Infantry Regiment)19-09-191329-12-1995more
Campbell, Miller T.  
Campbell, Reece A.   
Cantrell, Fred H.  
Caple, Dale  
Cappadona, Peter R. 22-02-1945
Cardone, Guierino A.  
Cardwell, Ross  
Carlisle, Ross W. 24-02-1945
Carlson, Kenneth R.   
Carlson, Robert M.   
Carnes, Ross S., Jr.  
Caroccia, Nicholas  
Carpenter, Claude A.  
Carpenter, William Richard "Pawnee Bill" 12-04-1945
Carr, Grady Calvin19-05-1918 
Carrier, John S.  
Carroll, Merle Ray16-12-1919 
Carson, Harley E.  
Carson, Lewis W.  
Carson, Virgil B.00-00-192402-10-1944
Carter, Allan B.  
Case, Norris B.07-01-192220-09-1944
Casper, Dorothy Elizabeth  
Cassetti, David B. 27-09-1944
Cassidy, Fred J.  
Castello, Maurice Virgil  
Catlett, Charles R.   
Caton, Harold Brown "Pete"06-06-191314-12-2013
Cecil, Charles Purcell04-09-189331-07-1944
Cecka, James T.27-09-192022-04-1999
Ceckowski, Francis Anthony  
Censulllo, Sylvio  
Cesino, Pasquale  
Chaisson, James J., Jr. 31-03-2001
Chamberlin, John C. "Jack"09-11-192007-02-1990more
Champion, William A.22-10-191617-12-2006
Chandler, Francis W.  
Chandler, Robert K. 09-04-1944
Chann, Nicholas  
Chanofsky, Nathan  
Chaplinski, Charles W.  
Chapman, Clarence R.  
Chapman, John Franklin13-10-191920-04-2013
Chavet, William J.  
Chavez, Daniel06-05-192015-03-2005
Chavez, Ernesto A.  
Chavez, Phillip G.  
Cheever, Francis L.  
Cherry, Joe W.  
Chesna, Julius  
Cheves, Wallace R.  
Chiappetta, John A.  
Chiarelli, Peter F.  
Childers, Ernest "Red Eagle"01-02-191817-03-2005more
Chojnowski, Walter  
Chop, Metro  
Choy, Jacob C. K.   
Christensen, George E.05-04-1920 more
Christensen, Jerome, Jr.  
Christensen, Wheatley Theordore05-07-1918 
Christiansen, LaVerne J.  
Church, John R.  
Churchill, Walter A.12-11-190321-09-1998more
Cibbs, Eric Leon  
Ciganick, Joseph M.  
Clancy, Thomas J., Jr.  
Clapp, Edgar W.  
Clark, Charles Robert, Jr.28-05-191816-12-2008
Clark, Earl C.  
Clark, Eugene F.  
Clark, Gilbert J.   
Clark, Harold Jr.  
Clark, Samuel T.   
Clavett, Walter Roger15-07-1921 
Clawson, Harry Allen08-11-191906-10-1944
Clayton, Arthur H.  
Clayton, Crithon  
Clement, Erwin "Scotty"01-09-191303-02-2008
Clement, George W., III00-00-191931-12-1944
Clifford, Joseph C.   
Cline, George W. 11-07-1944
Cloonan, Edward A., Jr.  
Close, Bertrand James17-02-192513-02-2009
Coady, James J. 25-01-1945
Cobb, John  
Cobb, Robert B.  
Cody, Doyle  
Cody, John  
Cogan, Earl T.  
Cogozzo, Ludovic P.  
Cohen, Samuel D.  
Coker, James T.07-07-191703-05-1944
Coladonato, Thomas  
Colalillo, Michael "Mike"02-12-192530-12-2011more
Cole, Arthur Paul07-03-192213-06-2005more
Cole, Darrell Samuel20-07-192019-02-1945more
Coleman, Therman E.  
Coleman, William E.   
Coles, James W. "Red" 27-10-1968
Coleton, John M., Jr.  
Colley, Raymond W.  
Collier, Garland Woodrow "Tex"01-11-191805-10-1944
Collier, John T.  
Collins, Dennis21-10-192227-09-1944
Collins, Gerald E.  
Collins, Roy  
Collo, Frank P.  
Colosacco, Ernest H.  
Colson, Charles F.  
Colucci, Joseph V.  
Colvin, Ansel M.  
Comer, Alva G.  
Compassi, Marion  
Compton, Charles E., Jr.  
Conein, Lucien Emile29-11-191903-06-1998more
Conger, Alwyn D.23-01-191410-01-1969more
Conklin, James Carlton 11-07-1943
Conley, Harry James20-10-192018-02-1974
Conley, Henry F. (Fred Duane)23-01-192211-07-1943
Conlon, Joseph M.  
Connally, David G.  
Connelly, Morrell F. "Buck"19-05-191914-01-2003
Conner, Robert E.  
Connor, Jimmy  more
Conroy, Patrick H.   
Constantin, Bernice J.  
Cook, Cloyce L.  
Cook, Cordelia E.  
Cook, Garland B.12-01-191502-04-1977more
Cook, Harvey James02-04-191825-11-2003
Coombs, Richard S.  
Coon, Kenneth R. 00-00-1993more
Copeland, Bill  
Copeland, Hunter A.  
Copeland, Johnell  
Copeland, Sterling H.17-02-192327-08-2012
Corak, Nick  
Corales, Richard Henry07-11-191704-12-1984
Corbin, James O.  
Corcoran, Charles E.  
Cordell, Robert H.  
Corley, Carl A.  
Cornelius, Joseph D.  
Corniot, Robert  
Costa, Louis  
Cotter, Lloyd H. 00-00-2004more
Cottingham, Randolph  
Coulter, Richard E. 02-03-2009
Counts, Ernest L.  
Couts, William L, Jr. 04-04-1945
Covington, Jack  
Cox, Ned S.  
Coyle, William J.  
Craddock, Roger H.  
Craft, McKinley  
Craig, Dan E.26-02-191322-12-2009
Craig, Edward A.22-11-189600-12-1994
Craig, Fred M.  
Craig, Jesse George  
Craig, John T.  
Crawford, Kenyon V.  
Crawford, William John "Bill"19-05-191815-03-2000more
Crenshaw, Oscar T.  
Cromp, Clifford C.00-00-1920 
Crook, Eugene E.  
Crooks, Robert J.  
Crookston, Spencer C.  
Crosby, Wendell  
Crotty, Charles L.  
Crouse, Glen J.  
Crowningshield, Floyd R.07-05-1922 
Crowson, Edward A.  
Cuckler, Harold E.   
Culbertson, Kenneth M.  
Culler, William O.  
Culp, Wayne R.  
Cumberbatch, Allan B.  
Curlett, Raymond J. 21-11-1944
Curtis, Charles, Jr.  
Curtis, Chester E.  
Cussans, Thomas L.09-06-191720-05-2000
Custer, Laurence R.  
Cutler, Paul  
Cutting, Harvey W.  
Czuban, Joseph E.   
Carter. Le Roy B. 02-04-1945

Sources