American Defense Service Medal - no devices

[Ben Shotalot]

This medal can have a bronze star and/or the letter "A".

The stars on the ribbon would represent the “bars” that would have been awarded along with the medal (hung on the drape) for certain service as follows:

Army - FOREIGN SERVICE for service outside the continental US (probably Hawaii or PR).

Navy/USMC - FLEET for service on the high seas.

Navy/USMC - BASE for service at bases outside the continental US.

Coast Guard - SEA for service on the high seas.

The Navy also authorizes the wear of the letter "A" if the wearer served with the Atlantic Fleet. The "A" would take the place of the bronze star in that case.

The medal is for 12 months of active duty from 8/8/1939 to 12/7/1941.

I am not sure if you were active for that whole time frame if you got more than one award (24 months).

I do not know how long you have to be stationed in a particular area or OCONUS base but I can see where someone can have more than one "bar" on the drape of the medal and therefore have more than one star.