4th Armored Division Uniforms - lack of American campaign ribbon

[Captainofthe7th]

I've noticed a theme with 4th Armored Division uniforms that they seem to lack the American Campaign ribbon. I'm always hesitant to say 'all,' but I have yet to see one -- there are a few on the forum and I recently moved one that belonged to a 4th Armd vet and later Marine in Korea. His later vandegrift did not have the ribbon and his records showed no evidence that he was entitled to it (though we can assume he was). There are a few uniforms around the forum that support this theory (and one to a 4th Armored vet who transferred to AAF who does wear the ribbon).

 

Anyone up for discussion?

 

Thanks,

Rob

 

 

This is his Marine uniform. His Army ike had only 4th Armored left sleeve, chevrons, and 4 o/s bars.

 

 

[Captainofthe7th]

[Paul70]

I have an original 4th Armored and he has one, but he transferred to it after V-E day from the 16th AD.

 

I also noticed the 8th Armored did the same thing - no American campaign ribbon on photos I saw.

[Captainofthe7th]

I have an original 4th Armored and he has one, but he transferred to it after V-E day from the 16th AD.

 

I also noticed the 8th Armored did the same thing - no American campaign ribbon on photos I saw.

 

Thanks Paul -- I'll have to look through the SSI threads here to see what I can find on 4th Armd. I'll look for 8th as well. All these units spent plenty of time in the U.S. so I don't see why they wouldn't be entitled!

 

Rob

[Allan H.]

In some military circles, both during and after WWII, the wearing of an American Campaign ribbon was construed as having "sat out" the war instead of being in combat. It is VERY common in a lot of WWII racks to not see an American Campaign ribbon. Even those who earned one (which was damned near everybody in WWII ) often times didn't wear the ribbon.

 

I wouldn't say that not wearing the ribbon was unique to the 8th Armored Division, even late war arrivals to theater like the 13th A/B see ribbon bars without the blue campaign ribbon.

 

My two cents,

 

Allan