What campaign does the bronze star award have to do with?

Answer 1

The Bronze Star was a device added to a campaign medal for a second award of the campaign medal.

If a soldier served in battles in France and Germany, he may have been in 3 campaigns. He would have been issued the campaign medal for that theater which is called the European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. The EAME Campaign medal was awarded for any campaigns in North Africa, Italy, Germany, France, etc. For the 1st Campaign he would received the ribbon (they usually did not give out the medal during the war). For the second and third campaign he would receive 1 Bronze Star Device for each campaign. This small star was attached to the ribbon. It was also attached to the ribbon of the Medal itself.

There were other Campaign medals for the Pacific. The same would apply for these.

This Device should not be confused with the Bronze Star Medal. This medal was in the shape of a star and made of Bronze. It was awarded for bravery in combat but it was also given out for other accomplishments. In 1947, the rules were changed to award the Bronze Star Medal to any infantryman who had earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge---signifying he had been in combat.