Operation Restore Honor

Bronze Star Medal

All honorably discharged Word War II veterans who earned a Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medical Badge are authorized the Bronze Star Medal.

History of the Bronze Star Medal

The history of the Bronze Star Medal goes back to 1944. In a memorandum to President Roosevelt in February 1944, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General George C. Marshall, wrote:

The fact that the ground troops, Infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must close in personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance. The award of the Air Medal have had an adverse reaction on the ground troops, particularly the Infantry Riflemen who are now suffering the heaviest losses, air or ground, in the Army, and enduring the greatest hardships.

Based on General Marshall's memorandum, President Roosevelt authorized the Bronze Star Medal by Executive Order 9419 dated 4 February 1944, retroactive to 7 December 1941. A study conducted in 1947, noted the hardship indicated by General Marshall's memorandum spoke of the hardships that were borne by soldiers who were awarded the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medical Badge. As a direct result, the policy was implemented and authorized the retroactive award of the Bronze Star Medal to soldiers who had received the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medical Badge during WWII.

Operation Restore Honor Bronze Star Medal Award Ceremony

On September 7, 2009, our office held the Operation Restore Honor Bronze Star Medal Award Ceremony where we presented 78 Ottawa County veterans, or their immediate family member, with the Bronze Star Medal.