Images of Ribbons That People Ask To Identify Often

[dg0223]

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.

[dg0223]

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

[dg0223]

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.

 

[LuftStalg1]

Good topic! it is also interesting how often they are place in the wrong order/position on the uniform when they are used.

[Dave]

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

[uplandmod]

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

[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

[carbinephalen]

Also...this topic should be pinned. GREAT reference. Awesome idea dg0223!!

[Dave]

Also...this topic should be pinned.

 

Already done...

[MasonK]

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

 

[MasonK]

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

[Dave]

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

[Captainofthe7th]

Washington National Guard Achievement medal also shows up very often.


Rob

 

[dg0223]

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

[Captainofthe7th]

Here is another good reference for international ribbons:

 

http://www.medals.org.uk/index.htm

 

Rob

[dg0223]

Here's the Wiki link to obsolete American campaign medals and awards:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete_military_awards_of_the_United_States

[TRR]

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

[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!

[carbinephalen]

That's the one! Thanks!!

[dg0223]

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

 

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

[TRR]

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)

[mvmhm]

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.

[wolfman]

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

[Captainofthe7th]

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

[TRR]

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