Clarification on wearing Croix de guerre

[wildkatz222]

Hello all,

 

I have several questions.

 

3rd infantry division was awarded the French Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de guerre in WWI. As far as I understand the whole 3rd division received the award. Is that correct?

 

My understanding is that any current member of the unit (not present when the decoration was presented) may wear the decoration while serving in the unit, the member cannot wear the decoration if they no longer is attached to the unit. However if they were in the unit when the decoration was given, they are allowed to wear the decoration even though they no longer serve in the unit. Is this correct?

 

3rd division was also awarded the croix de guerre in WWII. Is it safe to assume the ribbon for croix de guerre is also worn on the same basis?

 

Is this the case for US presidential unit citation as well?

 

I came across with many wwii 3rd division uniforms but none had the croix de guerre ribbon in the rack. What may be the reason for that?

 

Thanks in advance

[72psb]

I may be wrong , and often am. The fourragere is worn as a unit award. The ribbon worn if the soldier was individually awarded the CG medal.(Mentioned in dispatches).

[wildkatz222]

U r definitely right on the fourragere. I think the CG was awarded to units as well. In any case thanks for the reply.

[patches]

The 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Rope in the colors of the WWII Croix de Guerre, the 1st Division and 2nd Division were the one's with the WWI colors, the 1st Division was upgraded after WWII ended or was ending with the French Rope in the colors of the Medaille Militaire.

 

You are correct, the Rope may be worn only in perpetuity by the man who was present in the unit at time of cited action. As a unit award, yes once a man leaves the unit and is no longer assigned he takes off the Rope.

 

With all awards of the Croix de Guerre, the Croix de Guerre is worn as a STREAMER on the unit Colors, not as a personal framed citation ribbon in the manner of a PUC. Individual Soldiers were indeed awarded the Croix de Guerre as a personal valor decoration, but here in this case it will be worn with the other ribbons, and without Brass frame.

[wildkatz222]

Patches,

 

Thanks for the reply. So just because the unit was awarded a fourragère doesn't mean that they can wear the croix de guerre, unless they won it.

 

What about the PUC?

1. Do you have to be in the unit when it was awarded to be able to wear it permanently?

2. Can u wear it while u serve in the unit if u were not serving with that unit when the PUC was awarded.

3. If u were serving in one unit and they were awarded the pUC (1st unit) and then u were transferred to a unit that was awarded a PUC before u were assigned to it (2nd unit) then do u wear a oak leaf on the PUC? Is that oak leaf until u leave the 2nd unit?

 

Thanks for your help in advance.

[quack]

Patches,

 

Thanks for the reply. So just because the unit was awarded a fourragère doesn't mean that they can wear the croix de guerre, unless they won it.

 

What about the PUC?

1. Do you have to be in the unit when it was awarded to be able to wear it permanently?

2. Can u wear it while u serve in the unit if u were not serving with that unit when the PUC was awarded.

3. If u were serving in one unit and they were awarded the pUC (1st unit) and then u were transferred to a unit that was awarded a PUC before u were assigned to it (2nd unit) then do u wear a oak leaf on the PUC? Is that oak leaf until u leave the 2nd unit?

 

Thanks for your help in advance.

From AR 670-1: [Army rules only-- other services may be different...]

 

A soldier may wear the unit award permanently if the individual was assigned to, and present for duty with the unit any time during the period cited; or who was attached by competent orders to, and present for duty with the unit during the entire period, or for at least 30 consecutive days of the period cited.

When a soldier is permanently awarded a unit award and is subsequently assigned to a unit that has received the same unit award, the soldier will wear the permanent award in lieu of the temporary unit award.

A soldier may wear the unit award temporarily if the individual was not present with the unit during the period cited but was subsequently assigned to the unit. Soldiers may wear the unit award only while assigned to the cited unit. For elements of regiments organized under the New Manning System or Combat Arms Regimental System, only personnel of the earning unit wear the emblem temporarily.

Personnel may not wear the Air Force Presidential Unit Citation on a temporary basis.

Army and Air Force awards are equal in precedence, and the emblems are identical. An individual authorized to wear both an Army and Air Force emblemwould wear a single emblem with an oak leaf cluster. [That seems to be the only time you would put an oak leaf cluster on. The reg later states that "Only one emblem representing the same unit award is worn at one time.]

[wildkatz222]

Quack,

 

Thanks so very much. This is perfect. Exactly what I was looking for.

 

Thanks again