While looking for the medals I found this explanation it seems the small stars on the ribbon/medals are Service Stars. Dad was on several different islands and battles, I know he ended up in Japan after the A bomb was dropped. He never told us what he did to earn the Bronze Star though. The only thing he did talk about was him and another man putting the flag back up on that tall flag pole on Corrigidor after McArthur retook it.
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry. The medal is a circular bronze disc showing troop landing in a tropical setting with a palm tree. battleship, aircraft carrier and submarine in the background. At the top of the medal, around the edge, are the words ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN. The reverse of the medal shows an American eagle standing on a rock. On the left of the eagle are the raised inscribed dates 1941-1945 and on the right UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The ribbon is yellow-orange with narrow center stripes of red, white and blue (United States). Near the edges are narrow white, red and white stripes (Japan). Participation is specific combat operations is denoted by three-sixteenth inch bronze stars. A three-sixteenth inch silver star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars.
A Service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service medals, ribbon awards, and certain military badges. Service stars are different from award stars, which are issued for multiple awards of meritorious and combat decorations.
The United States military issues bronze and silver service stars, with a silver service star issued “in lieu” of five bronze. For instance, six campaigns, served on a campaign medal, would be annotated by one silver and one bronze service star. In some situations, service stars are only issued after the second award of a decoration. For instance, three awards of a Sea Service Ribbon would be annotated by the ribbon with two bronze service stars. The United States Army also occasionally issues award numerals, instead of service stars, to denote multiple awards of certain ribbon decorations.
Service stars issued for actions in which a United States Navy vessel participated are also placed on campaign streamers, which are affixed to the U.S. Navy flag. The regulations for this originated in 1942, which defined naval campaign areas and designated engagements. Participation in such engagements, by ships and by individuals, was then denoted by service stars. The United States Army followed a very similar practice with ground campaigns and battle engagements.
A common point of confusion is to confuse bronze and silver service stars with the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal. The main difference between the two is that the Bronze and Silver Star Medals are individual decorations while service stars are worn on awards and are not individual decorations or medals.