Calvin Hall Posted August 23, 2008 Share #1 Posted August 23, 2008 I recently rescued this one from a local pawn shop. The shop owners stated that a young fellow guy this in, but they couldn't provide any additional information. IMO, his son probably pawned this grouping. Several of the medals are named: Bronze Star, Merit. Service and Good Conduct. I wonder if he didn't also receive a Purple Heart as there appears to be space for it in the way that the medals are laid out on the black cloth. I am attempting to research this fellow. I have a copy of his obit, but I have not been able to locate any of his relatives. I even wonder if I should try to contact his relatives. His obit states that he loved parachuting, and this jives w/ the jump wings in the lot. AnAnh ultra quick search indicates that he may have served with the 101st Abn. I have mailed a SF180 off in hopes of getting some additional info. Anyone have any additional ideas for research? Calvin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverbackMP Posted August 23, 2008 Share #2 Posted August 23, 2008 Both the Bronze Star and Arcom have V-Devices which means he didn't get them for just showing up as a LT or senior NCO and not screwing something up. He actually earned them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 23, 2008 Share #3 Posted August 23, 2008 Calvin, That is an outstanding save. I never thought to look in a pawn shop. So sad someone would pawn these. I can't even imagine it. Not being a big VN guy, can you please tell me what the cross type medal on the bottom row is? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 23, 2008 Share #4 Posted August 23, 2008 Calvin, That is an outstanding save. I never thought to look in a pawn shop. So sad someone would pawn these. I can't even imagine it. Not being a big VN guy, can you please tell me what the cross type medal on the bottom row is? Thank you! Never mind, got it: Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted August 23, 2008 Calvin, That is an outstanding save. I never thought to look in a pawn shop. So sad someone would pawn these. I can't even imagine it. Not being a big VN guy, can you please tell me what the cross type medal on the bottom row is? Thank you! I have found some wonderful items in pawn shops including a Junker Knights Cross. Most of what I have found has been German items including armbands, helmet, assault badges, daggers, etc. For whatever reason, there are certain pawn shops that tend to get this stuff. Pawn shops in the 'hood never seem to have what I am looking for. Pawn shops in white, older parts of town are better places to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 23, 2008 Share #6 Posted August 23, 2008 I have found some wonderful items in pawn shops including a Junker Knights Cross. Most of what I have found has been German items including armbands, helmet, assault badges, daggers, etc. For whatever reason, there are certain pawn shops that tend to get this stuff. Pawn shops in the 'hood never seem to have what I am looking for. Pawn shops in white, older parts of town are better places to look. Interesting. I'll give that a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted August 23, 2008 Both the Bronze Star and Arcom have V-Devices which means he didn't get them for just showing up as a LT or senior NCO and not screwing something up. He actually earned them. Yes, I agree. The Bronze Star is missing an Oak Leaf cluster. It appears to have fallen off at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted August 23, 2008 Share #8 Posted August 23, 2008 Calvin, That is an outstanding save. So sad someone would pawn these. I can't even imagine it. DITTO, a sign of the economic problems that grip so many families today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share #9 Posted August 30, 2008 UPDATE! I mailed off a SF180 to the archives, and I was certainly pleased with the quick response. Here is the guy's service info... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share #10 Posted August 30, 2008 Here is info about the particular units that he served with during his time in the US Army.... Not the CO K 75 Rangers and the D Troop 2/17 101st Abn Airmoblie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted August 30, 2008 Awards and medals information... Odd that the air medal is not mentioned, but it is certianly reasonable to believe the he would have received this one due to his work w/ the 2/17 Cav. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VALOR1944 Posted September 3, 2008 Share #12 Posted September 3, 2008 very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
316th FS 324th FG Posted September 3, 2008 Share #13 Posted September 3, 2008 Awards and medals information... Odd that the air medal is not mentioned, but it is certianly reasonable to believe the he would have received this one due to his work w/ the 2/17 Cav. From this screen, is it safe to say the missing hole would have held his CIB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted September 4, 2008 Share #14 Posted September 4, 2008 Awards and medals information... Odd that the air medal is not mentioned, but it is certianly reasonable to believe the he would have received this one due to his work w/ the 2/17 Cav. The Air Medal and the other unlisted Bronze Stars were probably "impact awards", which were awarded on the spot and almost never entered into a soldier's permanent record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted September 4, 2008 Share #15 Posted September 4, 2008 The Air Medal and the other unlisted Bronze Stars were probably "impact awards", which were awarded on the spot and almost never entered into a soldier's permanent record. I have heard of impact awards but did not realize they were often undocumented. If there were no orders for them, is there any record of them anywhere and how does a recipient verify entitlement? Also, how frequently were they awarded? My father earned the Purple Heart in Vietnam and actually received it while in the hospital. The award is noted on his DD-214 but there is no order or other notation anywhere in his military personnel file. Is that very common? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capazo Posted September 4, 2008 Share #16 Posted September 4, 2008 Hi !!! What is a "impact award"?? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAYGO Posted September 4, 2008 Share #17 Posted September 4, 2008 For a second there while reading, I thought it very similar to my Dad's grouping, except the difference between BSM counts & Parachutist vs Senior. Neat grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share #18 Posted September 5, 2008 Yes, what are 'impact awards'? Also, can someone help with the principal duty that is listed for 13 Nov 70...it appears to read 'Scout Absingr'....what is an Absingr? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swag Posted September 5, 2008 Share #19 Posted September 5, 2008 Yes, what are 'impact awards'? Also, can someone help with the principal duty that is listed for 13 Nov 70...it appears to read 'Scout Absingr'....what is an Absingr? Maybe the person writing it had bad handwriting (like I do) and it should read 'Driver' like it does two lines down? Or maybe this guy was an aerial observer and it is 'Observer' badly written down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted September 8, 2008 Share #20 Posted September 8, 2008 Sorry it took so long to respond, but from my understanding, "impact awards" were given out immediately following an operation as a sort of morale boost. Troops would be lined up and a Colonel or General would come along and pin on Bronze Stars, Commendation Medals, etc., and go on their merry way. Unfortunately, with this practice of issuing medals on the spot, names were almost never taken down, so no evidence of the decoration would appear in a soldier's record. He'd basically have a Bronze Star that was definitely pinned on his chest by his commander, but he wouldn't have an accompanying certificate or citation as "proof" of the award. I'd never heard of them either until I read a biography of Medal of Honor recipient Joe Hooper a couple of years ago. Apparently, a couple of his lower ranking decorations were impact awards and never appeared in his record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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