Citation Star

Example of Citation Star on WWI Victory Medal

The Citation Star was an award of the United States Army which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918. The Citation Star was a silver star device pinned to the World War I Victory Medal to denote those who had been cited for extreme heroism or valor. The decoration was made retroactive as an attachment to all service medals back to the American Civil War.

General 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 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, 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, 3/16 inch in diameter, as prescribed in Uniform Regulations."

In 1921, Army Regulation 600-40 specified that the Citation Star would be worn above a campaign clasp on the ribbon of the service medal for service which a citation had been given. When displayed on an award ribbon, the Citation Star would be worn before service stars.

The service medals which were authorized for the Citation Star include:

• World War I Victory Medal
• Civil War Campaign Medal
• Indian Campaign Medal
• Spanish Campaign Medal
• Philippine Campaign Medal
• China Campaign Medal
• Mexican Service Medal

On July 19, 1932 the United States Secretary of War approved the Silver Star to replace the Citation Star. For those who had received several Citation stars, oak leaf clusters were authorized for the Silver Star.

During World War II, a silver star device was used as an appurtenance or attachment to campaign medals, in lieu of five bronze service stars.

The Citation Star was only authorized for the U.S. Army, however a very similar device, known as the Navy Commendation Star was authorized for wear by Navy and Marine Corps personnel on the World War I Victory Medal. The two decorations were not considered equivalent, however, and the Navy Commendation Star was not upgradeable to the Silver Star Medal.

At the start of the Second World War, the Navy Commendation Star was declared obsolete and none were issued between 1941 and 1945. In the 1950s, the Department of the Navy began accepting applications from World War I veterans to upgrade the Navy Commendation Star to the Navy Commendation Medal.