Military Service Ribbons

[Sidinman]

A while back I ask my mother if I could have my fathers old dress uniform jacket.

It has all his service ribbons.

Well today I went by to show her some pics. and helped her take down and box up the Christmas decorations.

Before I left she pulled the jacket out and gave it to me. Cool!

Well I've been researchin the ribbons and have figured out what they all are except for one.

Am curious if anyone here may have a clue.

He served at the end of WWII & the Korean War.

The ribbon in guestion is the buttom right in the third row.

[Omega]

Looks like the American Campaign Medal: http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item--i-F049_FULL_SIZE_LIST

[Omega]

Double post.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Omega

[btq96r]

If what you meant by 3rd row is above what Omega found, it looks like the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item--i-F051_Full_Size_List

 

Your father was the real deal, man.  But you already knew that.  A CIB with a repeat, and a Purple Heart with what looks like a silver leaf cluster means he had a helluva lot of lead thrown his way, and he caught more than his fair share of it.

 

 

I keep my Class 'A' jacket in the closet with the dry cleaning bag over it for the day where I might give it to a kid of my own when I pass on.  Glad to see your family kept his around for you.

Edited December 30, 2014 by btq96r

[Sidinman]

Looks like the American Campaign Medal: http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item--i-F049_FULL_SIZE_LIST

Thanks Omega thats it.

[Sidinman]

If what you meant by 3rd row is above what Omega found, it looks like the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item--i-F051_Full_Size_List

 

Your father was the real deal, man.  But you already knew that.  A CIB with a repeat, and a Purple Heart with what looks like a silver leaf cluster means he had a helluva lot of lead thrown his way, and he caught more than his fair share of it.

 

 

I keep my Class 'A' jacket in the closet with the dry cleaning bag over it for the day where I might give it to a kid of my own when I pass on.  Glad to see your family kept his around for you.

Yeah he caught a few pieces of lead and was bayoneted once in Korea.

Pretty tough Grunt.

Mom said he was nominated for a CMA but another fella in his platoon got it, but they may of been how he ended up with the Bronze Star.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Sidinman

[Dolomite_supafly]

To me it looks like something was pinned to the Bronze Star ribbon. I would check to see if maybe it was a V device. Based on the rest of the ribbons it would not surprise me.

[Sam1]

If you want, you can get a free new set of ribbons with the medals in the medal cases. I'll send you a link to the info after work today.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Not sure what records you have but you can also get his service record for free from the NPRC.

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/

[Sidinman]

Thanks Dol, I will check that out.

[KahrMan]

For us non military guys, can some one start at the top and explain what each ribbon/medal is for?

[monkeylizard]

Let's see if I get this right:

 

The top badge is the Combat Infantryman's Badge. The star indicates that he earned 2 of them.

 

Starting with the ribbons and moving left to right:

 

Row 1: Bronze Star Medal (agree with Dolo that there was possibly a "V" pinned there that broke off)

Row 2: Army Occupation Medal; Korean Service Medal (3 stars = 3 campaign phases); United Nations Korea Service Medal

Row 3: Purple Heart (silver oak leaf indicates 5 awards, plus the ribbon itself = 6 purple hearts); Army Good Conduct Medal (the double looped rope = 3 total awards); European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal  (3 stars = 3 campaign phases) <<Note that this ribbon is actually upside down>>

Row 4: American Defense Medal; World War II Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal

 

The bottom one on the pocket in the gold border is the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

 

Conclusion: Your father was a certified badass!

 

ETA: updated based on additional info from Sidinman.

 

*A bronze oak leaf indicates an additional awarding of the same medal. 5 bronze oak leaves are replaced with 1 silver oak leaf.

Edited December 30, 2014 by monkeylizard

[Sidinman]

Thanks Monkey, yes the oak leaf is silver.

I do believe there was the V on the Bronze Star.

The very bottom one is Republic of Korea Presidentual Unit Citation

Edited December 30, 2014 by Sidinman

[monkeylizard]

 I know some of them are out of order. They're supposed to be from "highest" to "lowest" for lack of a better term. If it were me, I'd leave them just as they are since that's clearly how he wore them.

 

I beleive that the "proper" order would be:

 

Bronze Star Medal

Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Medal;

American Campaign Medal; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal;

Army Occupation Medal; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Korea Service Medal

 

 

If anyone wants more info on any particular medal, just search the name I provided on Wikipedia and you'll get a good description of the criteria for each.

 

 

  :usa:

Edited December 30, 2014 by monkeylizard

[KahrMan]

That is really cool.  Thanks for the info Monkey.  Sidinman, your dad was a true hero. :up:

[Sidinman]

[Omega]

 I know some of them are out of order. They're supposed to be from "highest" to "lowest" for lack of a better term. If it were me, I'd leave them just as they are since that's clearly how he wore them.

 

I beleive that the "proper" order would be:

 

Bronze Star Medal

Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Medal;

American Campaign Medal; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal;

Army Occupation Medal; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Korea Service Medal

 

 

If anyone wants more info on any particular medal, just search the name I provided on Wikipedia and you'll get a good description of the criteria for each.

 

 

  :usa:

I would put them in order.  Those ribbons come off easily and anyone could have replaced them.  Seems like a good candidate to make, or have made, a display case to display them.  This place has some to give you an idea: http://www.azwoodbox.com/id90.html 

[Dolomite_supafly]

The right hand shoulder patch is his "combat patch" and was awarded while he was in the 7th Infantry Division. You are allowed to wear the patch of the unit you were in combat with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

 

The other, left shoulder, patch was likely the last unit he was with in the military. The left hand patch changes when you change duty assignments. BTW, that is the patch of the an armored division. What is odd is they normally have a number at the top of the patch to indicate which armored division it was. If I was a betting person I bet it was some sort of Class A thing that there is not a number at the top. The patch itself is from the most prestigious armored unit in the Army and has been around for a very, very long time.

 

The rank insignia is for a 1st Sergeant, or E-8, so he was in fact in charge of a company. It is possible to be a E-8 without being in charge so to get to lead some soldiers meant he was a great guy as well.

 

The blue rope on the shoulder is his Infantry Blue Cord and is worn by all qualified infantryman.

[monkeylizard]

If you're willing to share, I know I'd like to see you post a synopsis of his service record if you get one from NPRC. I always think it's interesting to know where people have served and how they found their way from one theater of operations to another. If I understand it properly, him having both the American Campaign Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal means he served in both the Euro/North African theater and in the Pacific theater during WW2.

[Sidinman]

Dol, I have several of those patches that your talking about, They are put up somewhere around here. The ones I remember are the Screamin Eagle, which may have been where he was in paratroopers school, mother said he graduated from there right before being deployed to Korea. Guess they needed good grunts worst than paratroopers. Then there's another thats actually a 7 but looks like an upside down 2. The other one that I recall at the moment is the Washington moument with a sword across it. I think that was when he was in DC after returning from Korea. After getting out of the hospital he did the tour at the ANC & the Unknown Soldier.

[monkeylizard]

The 7 (upside down 2) emblem sounds familar but I can't place it, and my Google-fu didn't turn up anything.

 

The Washington Monument and Sword is for the Military District of Washington, one of the Army's 19 major commands (MAJCOMs). I know that Fort Belvoir (currently part of MDW, but I don't think it was in the Korea era) was used as a last stop for soldiers returning from Vietnam before being discharged. Perhaps there was something similar in the Korea era where he was officially assigned following his combat duty and prior to being discharged.

Edited December 30, 2014 by monkeylizard

[Sidinman]

ML, when he left DC he went to Fort Knox and became a training officer.AKA: Drill Sgt./ was a Master Sgt. First Class,

Thats where he and my mother meet.

Mother said he had the reputation as the meanest little First Sgt. in Ft. Knox.

As he only stood 5'5" tall.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Sidinman

[LagerHead]

Dol, I have several of those patches that your talking about, They are put up somewhere around here. The ones I remember are the Screamin Eagle, which may have been where he was in paratroopers school, mother said he graduated from there right before being deployed to Korea. Guess they needed good grunts worst than paratroopers. Then there's another thats actually a 7 but looks like an upside down 2. The other one that I recall at the moment is the Washington moument with a sword across it. I think that was when he was in DC after returning from Korea. After getting out of the hospital he did the tour at the ANC & the Unknown Soldier.

 

I believe the 7 that looks like an upside down 2 is from the 7th Medical Command. I believe my dad also wore that patch when he was assigned to the 421st Medical BN (Air Ambulance) in Nellingen, Germany. 

 

Edited December 31, 2014 by LagerHead

[Dolomite_supafly]

And that would make sense if he was assigned to a medical company while he healed up from his numerous purple hearts.

[Patton]

You mentioned him being a paratrooper but he does not have wings on his uniform. It is possible that he was, his short frame would have been benificial, but maybe he decided just not to wear the wings.