Combat Infantry badge with star

o b juan

I served in the U S Army from 1956 t0 1961
At that time i saw many of those on EMs and officers
I am watching the Vietnam series on netflix and & Gen westmoreland had the CIB with wreath but no star.
What do the 2 signify?
also saw the badge no wreath or star and assumed that was for infantry training.
Any answers?

Grunt2

The original, World War II-model CIB was a silver and enamel badge, consisting of a 3-inch-wide (76 mm) rectangular bar with an infantry-blue field upon which is superimposed a Springfield Arsenal Musket, Model 1795. The composite device is superimposed to an elliptic oak-leaf wreath, symbolizing steadfast character, strength, and loyalty. During World War II, there existed metallic, composite models of the CIB composed of a separate EIB rectangle-badge and oak-leaf wreath that then was pinned to the blouse, as a Combat Infantryman Badge. Later, a matte-black subdued metal badge was created for wearing on the fatigues in the field. Since World War II, the CIB has been made in cloth (colored and subdued) for wear, like the matte-metal model, on the fatigue field uniform, and, a miniature (1.25 inches long) lacquered-metal CIB model is available for wearing on the mess dress uniform and civilian clothes.

On 8 February 1952, the Army approved the addition of stars to the CIB indicating the soldier?s having fought in more than one war. The first was the second-award CIB recognizing Korean War combat operations; in that time, the U.S. Army?s Institute of Heraldry also had created eighth-award CIB designs. The second- through fourth-award CIB awards were indicated with silver five-point stars, one to three stars centered, at badge?s top, between the tips of the oak-leaf wreath; the fifth- through eighth-awards of the CIB were indicated with gold stars. However, Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) only authorizes up to three awards of the CIB. There are four periods for which an award of the badge can be made:

World War II (7 December 1941 to 3 September 1945)
Korea (27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953)
Vietnam and other cold war era actions
(2 March 1961 to 10 March 1995)
War on Terror (5 December 2001 to present)

o b juan

Thanks Grunt. O B Juan

Wild Turkey

The plain badge with no wreath is the "Expert Infantry Badge" earned by taking a tough, multi-day test. http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Expert_Infantryman_Badge

The Wreath signifies the "Combat Infantry Badge" which is awarded after an Infantry soldier serves in active combat.

Because of abuse of the regs during Vietnam (staff officers getting themselves sent to combat posts for a few days so they could claim a CIB ) the rules got much tighter. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title32-vol3/xml/CFR-2008-title32-vol3-sec578-69.xml

As noted, the CIB (with wreath, no star) is the first award and stars are added for additional awards.

HTH [:D]