The Citation Star was a
Department of War personal valor decoration issued as a
ribbon device which was first established by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
on July 9, 1918 (Bulletin No. 43, War Dept. 1918). When awarded, a silver star was placed on the suspension ribbon and
service ribbon
A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
of the
World War I Victory Medal to denote a Citation (certificate) for "Gallantry In Action" was awarded to a soldier, or to a marine or
Navy corpsman attached to the Army's Second Division (
2nd Infantry Division),
American Expeditionary Forces
The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was a formation of the United States Armed Forces on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I, composed mostly of units from the United States Army, U.S. Army. The AEF was establis ...
. The Citation Star was replaced in 1932 with the introduction of the
Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an ...
.
Authorization
To receive a Citation Star, an individual had to be officially cited in orders by a General Order Number. The Citation Star is authorized retroactively to denote being cited for gallantry in action back to the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. General
Henry Jervey, Office of the Chief of Staff, in a letter dated February 26, 1926, wrote:
The Secretary of War directs as follows - The following is the amended version of paragraph 187 of Army Regulation: "No more than one Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
or one Distinguished Service Cross or one Distinguished Service Medal shall be issued to any one person, but for each succeeding or act sufficient to justify the award of a Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross or Distinguished Service Medal, respectively, a bronze oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a spec ...
, shall be issued in lieu thereof; and ''for each citation of an officer or enlisted man for gallantry in action'', published in orders from headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer, not warranting the issue of a Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross or Distinguished Service Medal, ''he shall wear a silver star, inch in diameter'', as prescribed in Uniform Regulations."
Army Regulation 600-40 specified that the "Citation Star" would be worn above a
campaign clasp on the suspension ribbon of the medal and to the wearer's right of the bronze
service stars
A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...
on the service ribbon. Authorized Army Citation Stars may be worn on the following service medals:
*
World War I Victory Medal
*
Civil War Campaign Medal
*
Indian Campaign Medal
*
Spanish Campaign Medal
*
Philippine Campaign Medal
*
China Campaign Medal
*
Mexican Service Medal
Silver Star Medal

On July 19, 1932, the United States Secretary of War approved the
Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an ...
to replace the Citation Star ( inch
"Silver Star"). The Silver Star Medal is a large gold hue gilt-bronze star which displays a " Silver Star in the center of the medal hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon. Recipients of the Citation Star could exchange the award for the medal. In August 1932,
Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...
received the first Silver Star Medal, with one silver and one bronze
oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a spec ...
converted from the seven Citation Stars he received for World War I.
An act of Congress authorized the Silver Star Medal for the Navy on 7 August and the Army on 16 December 1942 during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
(retroactive to 7 December 1941). The Army referred to the award as the "Silver Star" and the Navy referred to the award as the "Silver Star Medal". Additional awards from the Navy are denoted by gold and silver
" stars. The Department of Defense (DoD) refers to the decoration as the "Silver Star Medal" (SSM).
Also during World War II, a silver inch "
service star
A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...
" began being worn on certain medals in lieu of five bronze -inch service stars.
Navy Commendation Star

The Department of the Navy also authorized a inch "silver star" named the
Navy Commendation Star (Navy Letter of Commendation Star) for those sailors and marines commended for performance of duty by the
Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense. On March 25, 2025, John Phelan was confirm ...
which also was to be placed on the World War I Victory Medal for each citation. The Army and Navy inch Silver Stars were not considered equivalent awards, however, as the Navy Commendation Star could not be exchanged for the Silver Star Medal.
At the start of World War II, the Navy Commendation Star was declared obsolete and none were issued after 1941. In 1943, a
Navy Commendation Ribbon was authorized. In the 1950s, the Department of the Navy began accepting applications from eligible World War I veterans who were authorized the Navy Commendation Star to be reissued the
Navy Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant. In 1960 and 1994, this decoration was renamed the
Navy Commendation Medal and
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fift ...
. Additional awards of this medal are also denoted by gold and silver " stars.
See also
*
United States military award devices
References
{{reflist
United States military award devices
Awards established in 1918
1932 disestablishments in the United States
1918 establishments in the United States