dg0223 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 20, 2013 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 More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted March 20, 2013 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. 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 More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted March 20, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted March 20, 2013 Share #4 Posted March 20, 2013 Good topic! it is also interesting how often they are place in the wrong order/position on the uniform when they are used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 20, 2013 Share #5 Posted March 20, 2013 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 More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted March 21, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 21, 2013 This is the WWII China Occupation Ribbon. This one pops up every once in a while as well. 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 More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted March 21, 2013 Share #7 Posted March 21, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted March 21, 2013 Share #8 Posted March 21, 2013 Also...this topic should be pinned. GREAT reference. Awesome idea dg0223!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 21, 2013 Share #9 Posted March 21, 2013 Also...this topic should be pinned. Already done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasonK Posted March 21, 2013 Share #10 Posted March 21, 2013 Requests for identification of WWII Civilian Ribbons pop up on occassion on the forum: Photo courtesy of - http://www.frontiernet.net/~ericbush/US/Warrib5.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasonK Posted March 21, 2013 Share #11 Posted March 21, 2013 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 More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 21, 2013 Share #12 Posted March 21, 2013 The couple of charts from Eric Bush prompted me to visit his website. It's fantastic and has images of many, many ribbons that are often asked about. This is another good stop if you have unidentified ribbons: http://www.frontiernet.net/~ericbush/pages_images/Chart.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted March 21, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 21, 2013 Washington National Guard Achievement medal also shows up very often.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted March 21, 2013 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. 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 More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted March 21, 2013 Share #15 Posted March 21, 2013 Here is another good reference for international ribbons: http://www.medals.org.uk/index.htm Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted March 25, 2013 Here's the Wiki link to obsolete American campaign medals and awards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete_military_awards_of_the_United_States Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRR Posted March 28, 2013 Share #17 Posted March 28, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted March 28, 2013 Share #18 Posted March 28, 2013 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 More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted March 30, 2013 Share #19 Posted March 30, 2013 That's the one! Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #20 Posted April 8, 2013 I'll add this ribbon from Allan H's ribbon identification thread: This is the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Good Citizenship Medal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRR Posted April 10, 2013 Share #21 Posted April 10, 2013 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted April 13, 2013 Share #22 Posted April 13, 2013 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 More sharing options...
wolfman Posted April 15, 2013 Share #23 Posted April 15, 2013 Here are the british ones you are most likely to encounter WW1 The 1914/1915 Star The British War Medal 1914-18 WW2 1939-45 Star Defence Medal Canadian Voluntary Service Medal it can be found with or without the maple leaf War Medal 1939-45 May be found with an oakleaf signifying a Mention In Dispatches Medals for bravery WW1/2 The Distinguished Service Order for officers only The Distinguished Flying Cross for officers Air Force only The Military Cross for officers Army only The Distinguished Service Cross for officers Navy only The Distinguished Service Medal enlisted Navy only The Military Medal enlisted Army only Orders of Merit The Most Honourable Order of the Bath The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted April 20, 2013 Share #24 Posted April 20, 2013 How about the WWII Victory ribbon with a bronze battlestar? http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/112723-wwii-victory-ribbon-question/ http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=106555 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83108 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/120721-wwii-victory-medal-with-star/ http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/61296-ribbons-bar-wwii/ Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRR Posted April 20, 2013 Share #25 Posted April 20, 2013 Thought I would add this one since I spent the last hour looking for "sparkly navy ribbon" NATO Article 5 medal for Operation Active Endeavour Here is the link for the other NATO Ribbons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Medal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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