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Can anyone tell me what it would take in Vietnam for a man to be awarded the Army Bronze Star with Valor while still alive to receive it?

Don't know, but there are MoH folks that are alive.

Criteria:

Any person whom while serving in any way in or with the United States military after 6 December 1941, that distinguished himself or herself apart from his or her comrades by brave or praiseworthy achievement or service, that did not include participation in aerial flight. The act justifying award of the medal must be performed while fighting an enemy of the United States, or while involved in conflict with an opposing/foreign force. It can also be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat against an opposing military in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Heroism carried out under acts as described, which are of a lesser degree than those awarded of the Silver Star, will justify the award of the Bronze Star Medal.

While of a lesser degree than the award of the Legion of Merit, the act justifying the awarding of the Bronze Star Medal must have been praiseworthy and accomplished with merit. It can be awarded for a single act of value or meritorious service.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armymedals/ss/bsm_3.htm

OK....now I'm intrigued.......

Kind of a funny aside.

In 1970 a grenade fuse locker blew up in the face of a Gunner's Mate on the ship moored nest to ours in Newport, RI. I had just been talking to the gunner, and specifically about the defective lot number of fuses that we were tasked with checking our inventory for, and was then about 30 feet away and one deck up when the blast occurred. My hat was blown off, I was singed a little above the neck, and my jacket had burns on it.

I very rapidly realized what must have happened. I ran down the ladder and observed the gunner lying amidst the rubble with his clothes in flames. Unable to jump from ship to ship, I ran the length of our deck and notified our quarterdeck of the incident and the other ship's quarterdeck that they had "An explosion with injuries, starboard side just aft of the break" and went back to my own ship. I ran back to the position just opposite the explosion and began to deploy a fire hose, and recruited others to back me up with it. At that point a secondary explosion occurred injuring others, and making me glad that I had not been able to jump to the other ship.

I was credited by my command with quick thinking and rapid response and all that gabble,

My Point?

During the ensuing investigation on the other ship I was called in as a witness, and was told (by a young Lt(jg) that due to my actions I was being considered for a decoration "Probably a Bronze Star" (His words!) and I just about laughed in his face. Being an Army brat and coming from a family with a long military history, I knew what a Bronze Star was and what it was for.

I knew lots of guys who were awarded Bronze Stars, and many who were not but deserved them, and some of those former deserved much more, and felt that the butter bars was displaying his ignorance.

BTW, a friend and shipmate who served in 'Nam received his Bronze Star 30 years after the action involved.

Every outfit has their hero. In Vietnam, our's was Jerry. Jerry pulled an injured crewman off a burning C130 at Ke San and was awarded the Soldier's Medal. Later, he was on a firebase that was overrun one night, although not an infantryman he had buddies that were in the infantry that were calling for both ammo and medical help. Jerry left the security of the bunker he was in, carried ammo to the one's calling for it and carried a wounded soldier to the aid station then went back for another he was awarded the Bronze Star with V device for this. The Soldier's medal is a non-combat medal just under the Silver Star usually awarded for saving a life at great risk.

Jerry and I were both in the same stateside outfit after our combat tour.

The reason I asked is that I was recently informed of the death of my cousin William "Bill" Swartz. We grew up like brothers but after we both served in the military (him Army, me Navy) we sort of went our own ways. He moved to Tennessee, I moved to Texas.

He served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. He never told me what he received it for. I am still having trouble getting over his passing.

Wow. I'm just barely too young to have gone to Vietnam, and in fact I did not serve
in the military. I was among the last people to sign up for the draft before they dropped
it in 1975 (if I recall correctly).
I have a fascination with Vietnam for this reason and cannot say "thank you" enough to
the veterans who served in that war, as well as all the others.

I could read stories on a thread like this all day.

Thank you each for sharing, and I'm sorry, VoiceofReason for the death of your cousin. I hope you can
find the citation for his Bronze Star and I know you are proud of him.

-Bryan

VoiceofReason wrote:The reason I asked is that I was recently informed of the death of my cousin William "Bill" Swartz. We grew up like brothers but after we both served in the military (him Army, me Navy) we sort of went our own ways. He moved to Tennessee, I moved to Texas.

He served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. He never told me what he received it for. I am still having trouble getting over his passing.

A Next of Kin,

Surviving spouse that has not remarried
Father
Mother
Son
Daughter
Sister
Brother

can request the record of that award (Orders). The orders will have a narrative of the action for which it was awarded. This process is free, and I have used it. Go to:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/milita ... e-records/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The next of kin should download the request form, and in the "Other" block write in the orders they are requesting. Web site has all instructions they need. Of course the next of kin can order all manner of records also.

I may be incorrect, but as I understand it the Bronze Star with 'V' for valor is awarded for praiseworthy conduct in battle.
The Bronze Star without it is for praiseworthy conduct not in battle but in a combat zone.

My dad was awarded a Bronze Star with V in Vietnam

A list, likely incomplete, of Bronze Star recipients is at http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/bronze.htm.

my good friend across the street has a purple heart and bronze star from his time in vietnam as a door gunner
he was shot down x3,
crashed, walked out carrying part of his crew,
once flew his chopper back after the pilot was shot and the copilot was severely injured.

great guy
has a heart of gold towards everyone

MoJo wrote:Every outfit has their hero. In Vietnam, our's was Jerry. Jerry pulled an injured crewman off a burning C130 at Ke San and was awarded the Soldier's Medal. Later, he was on a firebase that was overrun one night, although not an infantryman he had buddies that were in the infantry that were calling for both ammo and medical help. Jerry left the security of the bunker he was in, carried ammo to the one's calling for it and carried a wounded soldier to the aid station then went back for another he was awarded the Bronze Star with V device for this. The Soldier's medal is a non-combat medal just under the Silver Star usually awarded for saving a life at great risk.

Jerry and I were both in the same stateside outfit after our combat tour.

From your story, I would say that Jerry WELL DESERVED the medal awarded. Maybe more.

Purplehood wrote:I may be incorrect, but as I understand it the Bronze Star with 'V' for valor is awarded for praiseworthy conduct in battle.
The Bronze Star without it is for praiseworthy conduct not in battle but in a combat zone.

AR 600–8–22
3–14. Bronze Star Medal
a. 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).
b. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the
United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service,
not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while
engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a
belligerent party. Title 10, United States Code, section 1133, (10 USC 1133) limits award of the Bronze Star Medal to
service members receiving imminent danger pay.
c. Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser
degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.
d. The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service according to the
following:
(1) Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The lesser degree than that
required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with
distinction.

And then if recommended for the award for valor, vice meritorious service

Narrative description of meritorious service or achievement for awards of the MSM, ARCOM, and AAM will be
limited to bullet format in the space allowed on the DA Form 638. Narratives are required for all other awards and will
be added as an addendum to the recommendation. Narrative should be prepared on 8 1/2 by 11-inch bond paper and is
limited to one double spaced typewritten page except for recommendations of the Distinguished Service Medal and
above. Narratives for valor must contain a description of the following elements: terrain and weather of the area in
which the action took place; enemy conditions, to include morale, proximity, firepower, casualties and situation prior
to, during and after the act; the effect of the act on the enemy; the action of comrades in the immediate vicinity of the
act and the degree of their participation in the act; if the act occurred in aerial flight, the type and position of the
aircraft and the individual’s crew position; the degree to which the act was voluntary; the degree to which the act was
outstanding and exceeded what was normally expected of the individual; all unusual circumstances; and overall effects
or results of the act.
s. Heroism award recommendations will contain statements of eyewitnesses, preferably in the form of certificates,
affidavits, or sworn statements; extracts from official records; sketches; maps; diagrams; photographs; and so forth,
which support and amplify stated facts for the heroism award.