10 U.S.C. § 1133: Bronze Star: limitation on persons eligible to receive

The decoration known as the “Bronze Star” may only be awarded to a member of a military force who—(1) at the time of the events for which the decoration is to be awarded, was serving in a geographic area in which special pay is authorized under section 310 or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a) of title 37; or (2) receives special pay under section 310 or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a) of title 37 as a result of those events.