Leadership: December 11, 2000

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After the Air Force awarded 246 Bronze Stars to personnel in the Kosovo War who never served in Combat, Congress included a clause in the new defense appropriations bill which limited the award to people who had received imminent danger pay. The move was controversial, in that the Bronze Star has often been awarded for meritorious service which was not in actual combat. Only those Bronze Stars with "V" devices to note valor are considered combat heroism awards. Even so, many agree that the Air Force went overboard with awards given out for the Kosovo War.--Stephen V Cole