A Bronze Service Star was a small bronze star device that was added to a Campaign Medal to indicate 5 campaigns.
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The Bronze star is awarded for acts of valor A bronze service star just denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple engagements in the same campaign. It's an addition to a service medal. You've seen men in uniform with the ribon medals on their left chest I assume. Those are service metals. The bronze service star would be placed on one of those ribbons if they went to that campaign more than once. The Bronze Star is a special medal only awarded for actions of valor not just because you served.
The Bronze Star Medal could be awarded for either "meritorious service" or for "valor". If the award was for valor, the Medal was awarded with a bronze "V device" to be worn on the ribbon of the Medal. After the war was over the Army decided that every WWII veteran was entitled to the Bronze Star Medal, but the award was for "meritorious service", not "valor", so no "V device".
Medal of Honor is the highest combat heroism award possible, Silver Star is the Third, and Bronze Star is the fourth. Second is Distinguished Service Cross.
You would have to look at the citation in his service record.
If you have the Bronze Star award on your Military Discharge, or if you have the Citation for it, take them to a Veteran Service Officer at any US Federal Building (some county offices have them, too). They will help you.