Jump to content

Images of Ribbons That People Ask To Identify Often


dg0223
 Share

Recommended Posts

I am starting this thread to show visual examples of ribbons that people ask to identify often. If you have any images, or ideas, for ribbons, please don't hesitate to add them to this thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the most asked about ribbons:

 

The Unofficial World War I Victory Ribbon:

 

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_06_2012/post-12923-1340107941.jpg

 

These are variants of the Unofficial WWI Victory Ribbon. This is one of the ribbons that I've seen asked to be identified the most. It's the ribbon to the right of the WWI Victory ribbon in the pictures.

 

This one is also asked about often.

 

http://www.vfwstore.org/images/supply/142-L.gif

 

This is the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Membership Ribbon.

 

This is the WWII China Occupation Ribbon. This one pops up every once in a while as well.

 

post-13568-0-37131800-1363804960.jpg

 

Please keep in mind I am not taking any credit for the images posted. These are pictures that I've pulled off the internet.

 

This is the China War Memorial RIbbon. There's a China War Memorial Medal.

 

http://www.medalsofamerica.com/ItemImages/Thumbnails/R180_Header.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pershing Rifles ribbon bars also come up for identification every once in a while. Some of these ribbon bars are also used by several National Guard units, but these come up every once in a while. Pershing Rifles ribbons don't really stray from the red, white, and blue color scheme, with the exception of a couple of purple colored ribbon bars.

 

PR.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great thread! I look forward to seeing more ribbons added! (Anyone have charts of NG and/or ROTC ribbons?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is the WWII China Occupation Ribbon. This one pops up every once in a while as well.

 

post-13568-0-37131800-1363804960.jpg

 

A member here posted a Kwik-set Viking version of this ribbon here and it had "China Liberation Ribbon" printed on the back. I believe both are correct but it was great seeing what a period ribbon producer called this obscure ribbon.

 

Leonardo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

carbinephalen

I've been asked about this one before....definitely not as hard to ID as some of the ribbons that you have posted, but still slightly uncommon.

 

The reason it is uncommon is that I have seen these on several WWII (NOT WWI) Uniforms and the soldier in question was no where near old enough to be a WWI vet.

 

I think what the consensus was, if they served on occupation duty after WWII, they just threw this ribbon on their rack because the WWII Army of Occupation medal hadn't yet been adopted. If I am wrong, somebody please correct me on this

post-14217-0-10676900-1363830979.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, just to add it as a reference, Wikipedia has a list of current and obsolete medals and decorations as well as State, National Guard, etc...These include photos of the ribbons:

 

Current & Obsolete:

 

http://en.wikipedia....States_military

 

National Guard:

 

http://en.wikipedia...._National_Guard

 

State Defense:

 

http://en.wikipedia...._defense_forces

 

Foreign Decorations Authorized for wear by US personnel:

 

http://en.wikipedia....States_military

 

International Decorations Authorized for wear by US personnel:

 

http://en.wikipedia....the_US_military

 

Government Civilian Awards:

 

http://en.wikipedia....ates_government

Link to comment
Share on other sites

carbinephalen posted a good ribbon that many people ask to be identified. It's also important to remember there were a couple of versions of this ribbon. The early version of this ribbon had a wavy break between the red and blue lines. The later version of the ribbon had a straight line separating the red and the blue.

 

WWI Occupation Ribbon:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_09_2009/post-895-1253991225.jpg

 

It would also be helpful if anybody wanted to post any of the tips and tricks they use in order to identify ribbons. As a general rule, Army JROTC and Marine Corps JROTC ribbons use dull colors, and are not as colorful as other sets of ribbons. They use browns, pale yellows, oranges, pale greens, purple, and gray. The Air Force JROTC and Navy JROTC use more colorful sets of ribbons than their Army and Air Force counterparts.

 

Here's the Army JROTC chart:

 

http://ajrotchelp.webs.com/ribbons.jpg

 

These also pop up every once in a while. These are ROTC Superior Cadet ribbons. The predominantly red one is the Senior ROTC ribbon, and the predominantly blue one is the Junior ROTC ribbon.

 

http://www.gracoind.com/retail/images/thumbs/0006478_450.jpeg

 

http://www.gracoind.com/wholesale/images/thumbs/0007263_260.jpg

 

This one is also a superior cadet ribbon, but this one is awarded specifically at military schools:

 

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/data/984/medium/Army_ROTC_Cadet_-_Superior_Service_Medal_-_Military_Schools_Division.JPG

 

Here's the NC-4 Ribbon. The NC-4 medal was authorized to commemorate the 1919 trans-Atlantic crossing by the members of the NC-4 mission. This ribbon is sometimes confused with the Inter American Defense Board ribbon.

 

post-13568-0-02144800-1363890794.jpg

 

Ok, this is the last one I'll post for now. This one is actually a group of ribbons that pop up every once in a while on pre-WWII ribbon bars. They're Nicaraguan ribbons. The solid blue one is the one that pops up more often. It's the Nicaraguan Medal of Merit ribbon. The white, light blue, and red one is the Nicaragua Cross of Valor. Both of these awards were awarded to General Chesty Puller.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_09_2010/post-1107-1284421517.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is from a 1942 Insignia and Decoration Book.

 

Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star

Soldier's Medal

American Service

Distinguished Flying Cross

Purple Heart

Distinguished Service Medal

Cuban Occupation

Spanish War Service

Spanish Campaign

Indian Campaign

China Campaign

Phillippine (Congressional)

Phillippine Campaign

Puerto Rican Campaign

Victory (World War)

Mexican Border Service

Mexican Service

Cuban Pacification

post-110009-0-24036500-1364476029.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

carbinephalen

I cannot for the life of me find it, but I remember somebody posting on here an unknown ribbon on a USAAF 4-pocket officer's jacket (I think he flew in the 9th) anyways the ribbon in question was a

 

"Reserve Officer" Ribbon or Officer's Reserve Club/Association or something along those lines.

 

Can anybody help a frustrated forumer out? Haha!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I'll add this ribbon from Allan H's ribbon identification thread:

 

This is the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Good Citizenship Medal

good_citizenship_medal.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Received in a recent eBay lot with WWII ribbon racks. Said to have come from a LTC. The 15 years and 20 years medals were sold to someone else.

 

New York NY National Guard Long & Faithful Service (obsolete) 20 years ribbon (bronze); 30 years ribbon (gold); 15 years medal (bronze); 20 years medal (gold)

post-110009-0-28044500-1365554620.jpg

post-110009-0-72340500-1365554620.jpg

post-110009-0-39367400-1365554847.jpg

post-110009-0-26661300-1365554852.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll add this ribbon from Allan H's ribbon identification thread:

 

 

This is the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Good Citizenship Medal

http://www.fairfaxresolvessar.org/content/ffx_community_teacherofyear/good_citizenship_medal.jpg[/i

mg]

Most of the SAR medals use the same pattern ribbon as this...even the membership badge. The ROTC and JROTC medals as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are the british ones you are most likely to encounter WW1

 

The 1914/1915 Star united-kingdom700.gif

 

The British War Medal 1914-18 united-kingdom701.gif

 

WW2

 

1939-45 Star united-kingdom648.gif

 

Defence Medal united-kingdom663.gif

 

Canadian Voluntary Service Medal it can be found with or without the maple leaf canada022.gif

 

War Medal 1939-45 May be found with an oakleaf signifying a Mention In Dispatches united-kingdom667.gif

 

Medals for bravery WW1/2

 

The Distinguished Service Order for officers only united-kingdom583.gif

 

The Distinguished Flying Cross for officers Air Force only united-kingdom631.gif

 

The Military Cross for officers Army only united-kingdom630.gif

 

The Distinguished Service Cross for officers Navy only united-kingdom628.gif

 

The Distinguished Service Medal enlisted Navy only united-kingdom750.gif

 

The Military Medal enlisted Army only united-kingdom751.gif

 

Orders of Merit

 

The Most Honourable Order of the Bathunited-kingdom326.gif

 

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St Georgeunited-kingdom408.gif

 

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empireunited-kingdom547.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Captainofthe7th

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...