British Serviceman awarded Bronze Star

[bigjarofwasps]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how a British serviceman, comes to be awarded an American gong?

Bronze Star Medal

Major Adam Timothy Stephen CRAWFORD

Royal Marines

Lieutenant Colonel Jani MAROK

Royal Marines

Major Simon James BANTON

The Staffordshire Regiment

Corporal Thomas Edward BOND

Royal Tank Regiment

Major General John COOPER DSO MBE

Late The King?s Own Scottish Borderers

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Davidson FRASER

Royal Corps of Signals

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Andre HOLDEN

The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters

Colonel Paul Richard Lorimer LANE

Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee James MASON

Royal Corps of Signals

Major John Stuart McDONALD

The Parachute Regiment

Major John Christopher PEREZ MBE

Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Major Michael William SHERVINGTON

The Parachute Regiment

Colonel Mark Evan WARING OBE

Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Captain Colin WHITWORTH

The Royal Logistic Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Simon Paton WORSLEY

Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major John Charles Julian WRIGHT

The Royal Anglian Regiment

[JBFloyd]

I think you will find that most of these will be meritorious service awards (although Corporal Bond, RTR, probably received a British gallantry award of some kind).

Usually, such awards are recommended through the US personnel system to the senior command in the area. This might be at the initiative of lower commanders or in response to a request for consideration of awards to allies. Once the list is compiled, it will be staffed through the senior American and British commands with award authority. In this case, because the awards are Bronze Stars, the award authority was probably the senior British officer in Iraq. Some higher awards would be staffed through the Pentagon and Whitehall.

Once British approval was obtained, the US side of the process would continue and the award packages would be prepared in detail. In some cases, this would mean a staffer would have to write a complete citation or polish up what was originally submitted with the recommendation. The package would include the decoration, an award certificate, an award citation, copies of the orders making the award, and any necessary forwarding letters to the appropriate British commander. The paperwork will normally be in a folder with the US Army seal on the cover.

Awards will generally be made by the senior US officer available (often with great show). If the recipient is not available, the package will be sent on to his command for presentation as appropriate.

Jeff Floyd

[Dave Danner]

For foreign recipients, the process is a little more complicated, and requires various intelligence background checks and State Department sign-off.

Below are the relevant regulations from DoD 1348.33-M, Defense Department Manual of Military Decorations & Awards (PDF).

By a MILPERS message dated 11 April 2003 (Word format), the Secretary of the Army delegated wartime approval authority for Operation Enduring Freedom down to the Commanders, Coalition Forces Land Component Command (COMCFLCC) and Combined Joint Task Force 180 (CTJF-180). On 20 April 2003 (PDF), the COMCFLCC for Operation Iraqi Freedom was also given approval authority. Although this means the general in charge in theater can approve awards that would otherwise require departmental approval, the procedures set forth below must still be followed. I assume (but I have been known to be wrong ) that the sister services have similarly delegated approval authority.

C8.2.1. Decorations for Foreign Military Personnel Engaged in Direct Support of Operations

C8.2.1.1. Foreign military personnel in ranks comparable to the grade of O-6, and below, at the time the act was performed and at the time the decoration is presented, may be awarded:

C8.2.1.1.1. The Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, or the Air Medal for valorous acts in actual combat in direct support of operations.

C8.2.1.1.2. The Soldier's Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, or the Airman's Medal for heroic acts in direct support of operations, but not involving actual combat.

C8.2.1.1.3. The Bronze Star for meritorious service in direct support of combat operations.

C8.2.1.2. The award of those decorations listed in paragraphs C8.2.1.1.1. through C8.2.1.1.3., above, to foreign military personnel shall be based on an act or service that would satisfy the criteria governing the award of the decoration to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

C8.2.1.3. Those decorations shall be awarded by the Secretary concerned or, as designated.

C8.2.1.4. Before the awarding of any decoration listed in paragraph C8.2.1., above, the approving authority shall coordinate with the appropriate U.S. Embassy to ensure that the decoration is consistent with the overall interests of the United States.

C8.3. RESPONSIBILITIES

C8.3.1. THE HEADS OF THE DoD COMPONENTS AND THE UNIFIED COMBATANT COMMANDERS shall ensure that awards to foreign military personnel clearly meet the requirements of section C8.2., above, and that those recommendations exceeding the 6-month period specified in paragraph 8.4.4., below, are disapproved, unless due to simple administrative delay or unusual circumstances. A full explanation shall be required for those cases forwarded beyond the 6-month period.

C8.3.2. THE HEAD OF THE DoD COMPONENT, OR THE UNIFIED COMBATANT COMMANDER, initiating the recommendation of an award to a member of a foreign military establishment shall request the pertinent military counterintelligence organization to conduct a counterintelligence records check in conjunction with the initiation of the award recommendation.

C8.3.3. THE DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, shall review the award recommendations, and conduct counterintelligence and biographic file checks to ensure the foreign military nominee has committed no act or engaged in any activity wherein the award of a U.S. decoration would cause embarrassment to the United States and shall provide the recommending DoD Component or Unified Combatant Commander with a statement of concurrence or nonconcurrence.

C8.3.4. THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY shall coordinate, in the OSD, the recommendations for an award requiring Secretary of Defense approval, and shall obtain a statement of concurrence from the Secretary of State, or designated representative, when required.

C8.3.5. THE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES (WHS), shall maintain a stock of Legion of Merit certificates for all the DoD Components and the Unified Combatant Commands.

C8.4. PROCEDURES

C8.4.1. On receipt of the counterintelligence check, the initiating DoD Component or Unified Combatant Commander shall forward it to the DIA for review. The DIA shall prepare and return to the recommending DoD Component or Unified Combatant Command a biographic sketch together with a statement of concurrence in the proposed award and citation.

C8.4.2. A recommendation from a DoD Component or an Unified Combatant Commander for an award requiring approval of the Secretary of Defense or a higher authority shall include the items in paragraphs C8.4.2.1. through C8.4.2.6., below. Recommendations initiated by Unified Combatant Commanders may bypass the Service and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff coordination. However, information copies should be provided.

C8.4.2.1. Covering memorandum to the Secretary of Defense recommending approval and, where appropriate, a proposed memorandum for the Secretary of Defense to the President recommending approval.

C8.4.2.2. Approved citation and, where appropriate, the approved certificate.

C8.4.2.3. Biographic sketch on the individual to receive the award.

C8.4.2.4. Statement of concurrence by the U.S. Chief of Mission and the U.S. Defense Attache (if one is assigned) to the country of the recipient of the award.

C8.4.2.5. Statement of concurrence from the DIA.

C8.4.2.6. Additional documentation supporting the recommendation.

C8.4.3. If considered desirable, the USD(P) should request the Department of State to obtain the foreign country's clearance for the award.

C8.4.4. Recommendation for an award should reach the USD(P) in six months after completion of the period of service for which the award is being recommended to ensure coordination with the DOS. On clearance by that office, the recommendation then shall be forwarded to the OSD for appropriate action.

C8.4.5. After the award is approved, the recommending DoD Component or Unified Combatant Commander shall:

C8.4.5.1. Make necessary arrangements, coordinating with the appropriate Ambassador or U.S. Defense Attache, for presenting the award. Once approved, unnecessary security or administrative processing should be avoided to ensure prompt recognition is given to the intended recipient.

C8.4.5.2. Ensure that a miniature medal is included in the award package to be presented to the individual.

C8.4.6. Scheduling of presentation ceremonies and public announcements regarding individual awards shall be avoided until approval of the award is granted.

Edited October 4, 2005 by Dave Danner

[JBFloyd]

While the DoD manual is certainly going to be followed in spirit, I doubt that the letter will be followed too closely in a case like this. The senior State Department rep on scene will get a courtesy copy, as will the senior DIA rep, but it's unlikely in this case that anyone will ask the US Ambassador to the UK (or to Iraq, for that matter) for approval (they are most likely addressees on the State/DIA message, at best).

If the recipient is from the Peoples Republic of Lower Slobovia, then you get to different levels of annoyance, with lots more people involved (so that blame can be distributed evenly when things go badly).

Jeff Floyd

[Dave Danner]

No doubt State Department approval is more pro forma in these cases, but good bureaucrats in the Pentagon will make sure every block is checked. The intelligence background checks can't be avoided, of course. It would be rather embarrassing to discover, say, that the Ukrainian brigade commander in al-Kut being recommended for a Legion of Merit or Bronze Star had hosed a village full of Afghans as a Soviet Army lieutenant. Your average Royal Logistic Corps captain, though, is likely to come up clean pretty quickly.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I am not sure how well the background check is. A couple were given to guys in out Regt in the Gulf, one of the guys was serving under another name. According to a LT the Col was told 2 stars for the regt and he said "Well, one for XZY and see if there is an American in the Regt, best person to give it to".

Even the regular French army has no access to the background checks made by the legion, so I doubt the US army was able to do any of the checks above just to award a medal... and also, the yank who got it was serving under another name in the legion...

Soooooo....

[Bob Hunter]

Congratulations to all and well done! Good 'sojurin'.

[bigjarofwasps]

Cheers Dave, I think that just about answers my question, thank you very much!!!!

But, how long does all that take & can you define meritous service for me? Who would put a foreign soldier forward for say a Bronze Star, would it be the commander on the ground?

MrBean, you also posed an interesting question, given what Dave, says, your point seems to hint, that they are given out like sweets?

How do you tell the difference between a BS, that has been awarded for bravery in battle, and one for meritous service, I`m confused?

[JBFloyd]

Timing of awards to allies can vary significantly. I've seen cases where the award came first and all the administrivia came afterwards (i.e., the general handed out the medal and the captains got to take care of the paperwork). Generally, the process would take 3-4 months as paperwork slowly moved through the system.

In WWII, 8th Air Force would cut general orders semi-annually with all the allied awards. I have one GO with a mix of British, Polish, Czech, Dutch and Norwegian recipients of DFCs and Air Medals.

The definition of meritorious service is left open, but generally you'll find the recipients to be staff officers and field commanders who worked closely with their US counterparts. The recommendation would come from the part of the US chain of command nearest the recipient. Since the final award orders will come out of the senior headquarters, it's often hard to tell where they originated. Recommendations will come in from a variety of sources but, in theory, the recommendation starts with someone with direct knowledge and observation of the service/gallantry.

A gallantry award (for Army and Air Force awards) will carry a "V" device. The Navy and Marine Corps use the "V" as a "combat distinguishing device", meaning the action/service took place in a combat zone, but may not have involved gallantry on the part of the recipient.

The situation Chris refers to is not uncommon when awards are spread among allies. Often a package of awards will be passed along to the allied command with the request that they be distributed appropriately and the recipients' names be reported back to the US headquarters. This has allowed the allied commander some discretion in adding some variety to his own award system. British commanders in WWII often used these packages to reward folks who would not have received a British award for their service. I have a group in my collection with a British DFM to an American bomber crewman. He had a DFC and several Air Medals for flying missions out of Italy, but there is nothing in his record which would make him stand out for a DFM award. While it "came up with the rations", it's a named medal, so someone went trough the process of identying this crewman to the British and tracking him until the award was actually made.

[Dave Danner]

Lt. Col. Rowan Tink of the Australian SAS received his Bronze Star Medal in July 2002 "[f]or exceptionally meritorious achievement while serving as commander [of the Australian Special Forces Task Group], Australian Defense Force, with Coalition Task Force?Mountain, in Bagram, Afghanistan. [Lt. Col. Tink's] outstanding leadership, strategic and tactical proficiency, dedication to duty and commitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone under the most extreme of circumstances greatly contributed to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom. [Lt. Col. Tink's] performance of duty reflects great credit upon him, the Australian Defense Force and the Coalition members of Coalition Task Force?Mountain."

He took command of the Task Force in January 2002 and the award came on his handing over command in July, so this would be an example of the expedited process to which Jeff refers.

[bigjarofwasps]

Cheers guys, that is very interesting.

Could you explain the "V", device you mentioned is this worn on the ribbon? Do you get letters after yuor name if you win a Broze or Silver Star?

[JBFloyd]

The "V" is worn on the medal ribbon and ribbon bar, much like an MID device.

No US decorations have post-nominal letters for common usage.

Edited October 6, 2005 by JBFloyd

[Paul R]

There is a German member of another forum that has a US Bronze Star as well as an Army Commendation medal...

Regards

Paul

[Bob Hunter]

The "V" device indicates an award for valor and is most frequently, but not exclusively, seen on the Bronze Star Medal.

[Paul R]

The "V" device indicates an award for valor and is most frequently, but not exclusively, seen on the Bronze Star Medal.

You are right Bob...

Valor Devices can be awarded on:

Achievement Medals(any branch of service)

Commendation Medals(any branch of service)

Bronze Star

and I have even seen one on a Legion of Merit.

The Air Force can authorize a Valor Device for their unit commendations as well.

I will check out the Medals and Awards Manual for other medals that can have this device authorized tomorrow when I go to work.

Best regards

Paul

Best regards

Paul

Edited October 7, 2005 by Paul Reck

[Bob Hunter]

One picks up a few tidbits of information here and there during a 22 year career in the regular army.

[Paul R]

Hey Bob!

What was your MOS in the Army(I dont know the codes...lol). What time periods were you in?

Thank you for your service!

Warm regards

Paul

[JBFloyd]

The Air Force recently authorized the "V" for the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[Dave Danner]

Three things to keep in mind:

1. The services have different criteria for the "V".

2. The services have different criteria for which medals qualify for the "V".

3. The criteria have changed over time.

The "V" is known as the Valor Device in the Army and Air Force, but is referred to as the "Combat Distinguishing Device" in the Navy and Marine Corps.

For the Army, the current regulation is as follows:

The "V" device is a bronze block letter, V, 1/4-inch high with serifs at the top of the members. It is worn to denote participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy. It was originally worn only on the suspension and service ribbons of the Bronze Star Medal to denote an award made for heroism (valor). Effective 29 February 1964, the "V" device was also authorized for wear on the Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal for heroic acts or valorous deeds not warranting awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device. Effective 25 June 1963, the "V" device was authorized additionally for wear on the Joint Service Commendation Medal when the award is for acts of valor (heroism) during participation in combat operations. In the case of multiple "V" devices for the same award, only one "V" device is worn on the service ribbons.

The Army does not authorize the "V" device for the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Army Achievement Medal.

For the Navy and the Marine Corps, the medals authorized the "V" are:

• Legion of Merit - During Vietnam the "V" was authorized for service subsequent to 17 July 1967. It was discontinued in April 1974 but reauthorized effective 17 January 1991.
• Distinguished Flying Cross - "V" authorized for valor (heroism) after 4 April 1974.
• Bronze Star Medal - authorized for valor (heroism).
• Air Medal - authorized for single mission Air Medals for valor (heroism) after 4 April 1974.
• Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal - authorized for valor (heroism).
• Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal - During Vietnam the "V" was authorized for service subsequent to 17 July 1967. It was discontinued in April 1974 but reauthorized effective 17 January 1991.

In addition, sailors and Marines are authorized to wear the Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V".

For the Air Force, it is more complicated:

• Distinguished Flying Cross - "V" authorized for heroism approved on or after 3 Jun 2004. Retroactively, for earlier DFCs for heroism between 18 Sep 1947 - 2 Jun 2004, the award will not be re-awarded, but Air Force members may wear the "V".
• Bronze Star Medal - "V" Device for valor (heroism).
• Air Medal - "V" Device for valor to Air Medals awarded for heroism effective 21 Oct 2004. No retroactive awards.
• Air Force Commendation Medal - "V" authorized after 11 Jan 96. "V" indicates an award in a hostile area, not a valor award.
• Air Force Achievement Medal - "V" authorized after 11 Jan 96. "V" indicates an award in a hostile area, not a valor award.
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - "V" for AFOUA awarded for combat or direct combat support actions.
• Air Force Organizational Excellence Award - "V" for AFOEA awarded for combat or direct combat support actions.

Like the other services, Air Force members are authorized to wear the Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V".

The Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) is a Department of Defense award, so it covered by DoD regulations rather than service regulations. Initially (between 25 June 1963 and 31 March 1976), the "V" was authorized if the JSCM was for an act or service involving direct participation in combat operations. Effective 1 April 1976, this was chnaged so that the "V" Device was authorized if the JSCM was for valor (heroism) in a designated combat area.

This distinction is confusing, so much so that it played a role in the suicide of an admiral.

During the Vietnam era, the "V" on the JSCM indicated not valor, but combat participation, and distinguished the JSCM from one given for merit not involving combat. There is some confusion in the Navy's regulations on this. They do call it a "Combat Distinguishing Device", not a "Valor Device", after all. But current regulations say that the device indicates heroism (except in the case of the Legion of Merit: Navy regulations don't specifically say what authorizes a "V" for the LOM, but the LOM is generally a merit/leadership award, not a valor award).

Air Force regulations, however, are a mish-mash. For certain awards, the "V" indicates heroism. For others, it indicates combat participation. And the nature of Air Force operations makes "direct or indirect support" confusing. Is the guy loading bombs on a B-52 in Kyrgyzstan or Kuwait in direct support, but the guy loading bombs in Ramstein or Lakenheath or Elmendorf not? This came up in Kosovo where officers and airmen in the United States received Bronze Stars for merit (which is a combat award) rather than Meritorious Service Medals (the equivalent non-combat award) because they were considered to be in direct support of combat operations.

Edited October 8, 2005 by Dave Danner

[Paul R]

Dan,

Thank you for that detailed explanation. I DID NOT know that they varied from service to service like that! The Coast Guard follows the Navy/Marine Corps rules you listed for this device.

Paul

Edited October 7, 2005 by Paul Reck

[Gunner 1]

To give some idea of what the Bronze Star was awarded for in World War II to British Officers, I offer the following citation that accompanied the award of a Bronze Star to a Captain in the Royal Artillery: "For meritorious service in action during the period 30 July 1944 to 29 August 1944 in the North Burma Campaign. As a staff member of the Artillery Group, Captain Buchanan rendered outstanding service to the Allied cause by his untiring effort, technical skill, and spirit of cooperation in the coordination of British and Chinese elements of the Artillery Group. His efficiency and devotion to duty contributed greatly to the successful operation of the Artillery Group."

I have attached a photo of his medal group.

Gunner 1

[Gunner 1]

Photo to accompany my earlier posting on Bronze Stars to British officers.

[bigjarofwasps]

Very nice!!!!!

Theres a guy from my village, whose father won a BS, in Italy during WW2, I think it was at Casino, I`m sure he was a in the Royal Signals.

I`m thinking about starting to collect US medal groups, can anyone suggest any where, were I might be able to buy them? Not sure if I`ve asked this before, but are US medals named like, British ones?

[Ed_Haynes]

US medals are not named (usually). Some decorations are, but with every permutation of naming ranging from the official to the neighborhood jeweler. Some early campaign medals are numbered and this opens up marvelous new ways to spend research time.

If I were going to start collecting US groups with good pedigrees, I'd see no better place to start than in the auctions held by Floyd, Johnson, and Paine (now FJP Auctions). See: http://www.fjpauctions.com/

[Dave Danner]

I must say I find it insulting to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines on the receiving end that those piss-poor quality recently cast Silver Stars are what they are given.

Below, by comparison, is a 1940s-produced Silver Star. What is particularly galling is that the government has/had tons of these in storage, from various WW2 contracts, which they sold off to the collector market, while awarding the newer crappy ones. It's not like they were in danger of running out. Since Vietnam, the services have awarded less than 600 Silver Stars (I'm not sure of the exact number as I can't find Air Force statistics).