Established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 (at the urging of Gen. George C. Marshall) the Bronze Star is awarded to any person serving in the United States Armed Forces who has distinguished himself/herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The coin is dedicated to the United States Armed Forces men and women who have taken the fight for freedom directly to America's enemies and honors their commitment to their sworn duty in perilous and inhospitable conditions.