I said in a post above that I the confusion regarding "four bronze stars" might be a motivation for Kerry having amended his DD214.
The Bronze Star medal can be awarded for valor or for meritorious service. The "v" device distinquishes the two.
The VietNam Service Medal is awarded to any serviceman who served in the VietNam theater of war during a specific period. In addition, small bronze star-shaped devices can be affixed to the ribbon to indicate that the wearer was present during specific campaigns while in the theater of war. My recollection is that one need only be present for one day during a campaign to be entitled to the bronze star device indicating that campaign.
Some career soldiers served multiple tours in VietNam and the number of campaigns during which they served could equal or exceed five. Wearers of the VietNam Service Medal may substitute a small silver star device to indicate five campaigns.
Thus, a career soldier who by chance served during all 29 campaigns recognized during the VietNam War would be entitled to wear five small silver star devices and four small bronze star devices on his VietNam Service Medal and/or the ribbon which represents that medal. Nine such devices would make a very crowded ribbon but there is probably enough room for a row of silver stars and a row of bronze stars to indicate such a perfect attendance record.
The Bronze Star medal and the small bronze star device associated with the VietNam Service Medal are two entirely different things.