10 March 2005
[Excerpt from "APPLICATION FOR GOLD STAR LAPEL BUTTON," DoD DD Form 3 below.]
INFORMATION
Public Law 534 - 89th Congress, directs the design and distribution of a lapel button, to the known as the "Gold Star Lapel Button," to identify widows, parents and next of kin of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives:
(1) During World War I, April 6, 1917 to March 3, 1921;(2) During World War II, September 8, 1939 to July 25, 1947;
(3) During any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958 (United Nations action in Korea, June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954);
(4) After June 30, 1958
(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;
(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force.*
The law provides that one Gold Star Lapel Button will be furnished, without cost, to the widow and to each of the parents and the next of kin. The term "widow" includes widower; the term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis; the term "next of kin" includes only children, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters; and the term "children" includes stepchildren and children through adoption.
The law further provides that not more than one Gold Star Lapel Button may be furnished to any one individual except that, when a Gold Star Lapel Button furnished under this section has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was furnished, the button may be replaced upon application and payment of an amount sufficient to cover the cost of manufacture and distribution.
* Operations subsequent to June 30, 1958 which are recognized by the Department of Defense in establishing eligibility for the Gold Star Lapel Button include:
- Lebanon, July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958- Republic of Vietnam, July 1, 1958 to March 28, 1973
- Quemoy and Matsu Islands, August 23, 1958 to June 1, 1963
- Taiwan Straits, August 23, 1958 to January 1, 1959
- U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations in the Congo, July 14, 1960 to September 1, 1962
- U.S. operations of assistance to the Republic of Laos, April 19, 1961 to October 7, 1962
- Berlin, August 14, 1961 to June 1, 1963
- Cuba, October 24, 1962 to June 1, 1963
- Congo, November 23, 1964 to November 27, 1964
- Dominican Republic, April 28, 1965 to September 21, 1966
- Korea, October 1, 1966 to June 30, 1974
- Cambodia, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
- Thailand, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
- Cambodia, April 11, 1975 to April 13, 1975
- Vietnam, April 29, 1975 to April 30, 1975
- Mayaguez Operation, May 15, 1975
- Lebanon, June 1983 to [blank]
- Grenadan Operation, October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983
- Operation Eldorado Canyon, April 2, 1986 to April 17, 1986
- Panama, December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
- Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995
- Haiti, September 16, 1994 to March 31, 1995
- Somalia, December 5, 1992 to March 31, 1995
- Operations in the Persian Gulf, November 30, 1995 to (to be determined)
- Operations in and around the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, December 20, 1996 to June 20, 1998
and any subsequent operations as may be announced by the Secretary of Defense.
https://134.11.61.26/CD10/Electronic%20Forms/DD.HTM
[Excerpts. Document links to DoD site.]