Medal with Thumbnail Oak Leaf Cluster? (List)

[LuftStalg1]

So I have started a spreadsheet of every known medal with a “thumbnail” Oak Leaf Cluster (TOLC) on its ribbon drape. This list contains Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Service Medal DSM(?), Silver Star (SS), and of course the Purple Heart (PH) medals. To start with I will try to identify each medal I have on the list so we don’t inadvertently double or triple post some of these as I recovered most of them from the forum to start with. If you have one and you don’t see it listed please post the information and, if possible, a photo. We all love photos! And that helps corroborate the data. If you see your medal with a (?) for something shoot me a note to fill in the blank if you have that data.

 

Now keep in mind this list is done in good faith that the data is real un-messed with unaltered. It is always possible a replacement medal was used with original TOLC or an original medal with fake TOLC may exist where there should be real devices. These should be on the list as well, IMO.

 

There is also the possibility someone requested the PH late so the numbers don’t seem to fall in line based on the “Action” date. Also consider how many PH’s were issued between those needing a second or third award.

The use of the large cluster and small cluster at some point will overlap as the supply of the TOLC dried up and the new smaller version was being used. (This is assuming more than one person/location issued them.) So if your medal should have a TOLC on it then it should be on this list so go ahead and send them in and we can mark them with a (*Note for any data point outliers’).

The spreadsheet is laid out like this:

 

Name | Type of Medal | Date of action | Date of award | # on medal | which award 1st, 3rd, 6th etc. | Notes such as number listed on the card.

For example with MacArthur’s Silver Star and 6 TOLC on it I have 7 enters on the spreadsheet. This makes it easy to do a sort really quickly once the list gets long. I have more then 11,000 names on my Stalag Luft 1 POW list and sorting becomes very handy!

So far the earliest award of a TOLC to start with is 17 Dec 1919, Luke Gaffey on his DSC. The last I have is 2 Feb 1934, David Skinner on his SS.

 

For simplicity here I will post my list alphabetically by last name so you can quickly spot your medal if I have it already on the list.

 

Ok here goes with 34 data points to start with!

 

Ayers, Maurice: PH #?
Bartlett, William: PH #18941
Breithauupt, Erwin: PH #22155
Burns, George: PH #13535
Castura, Michael: DSC #6816
Christow, Nicholas: PH #36837
Clements, John: PH #?
Coffenberg, ?: PH #11336
Croka, ?: PH #28639
Darmstadt, Edward: PH #?
Duncan, Robert: PH #40444
Dunlap, George: PH #2588
Frasier, Lyman: PH 40314
Gaffey, Luke: DSC #1232
Greenleaf, Frank: PH #751
Harvey, Scott: PH #37871
Hayden, David: PH #? (MOH)
Jackson, Charles: PH #7380
Jacobs, Albert: PH #22228
Jones, Robert: PH #16396
Knipe, William: PH #3286
Lawler, ?: SS #798
MacArthur, Douglas: SS #?
McElhone, Thomas: PH #4155
Moore, William: PH #27162
Murdock, Clarence: PH #11564
Patton, George: PH #1
Reynolds, John: PH #7546
Robinson, Asa B: PH #29394
Schneller, John: PH #16821
Skinner, David: SS #6518
Tompkins, Frank: PH #?
Wasilewski, Stanislaus: PH #22187
?,?: DSM #4014

[Wharfmaster]

Any chance we could refer to them simply as the Large OLK rather than a thumbnail ?

 

 

W

[Wharfmaster]

Correction: Large OLC.

[Hermanus]

PH no. 1 was to Douglas MacArthur.

 

I have the following large OLC PH noted down:

 

BBB

#1 see above

#751 Frank M. Greenleaf

#2588 George F. Dunlap

#3286 William A. Knipe

#4155 Thomas McElhone

#7233 John T. Vogel

#7380 Charles H. Jackson

#9452 George Coccinos

#11564 Clarence T. Murdock

#12049 Glenn W. Ratliff

#13444 George D. Burns

#16821 John B. Scheller

#18208 Rossi Espinosa

#21593 Virgil D. MacLane

#22155 Erwin M. Breithaupt

#22187 Stanislaus Wasilewski

#22228 Albert Jacobs

#25572 Walter W. King

#27134 Metro Jepko

#27162 William C. Moore

#29394 Asa B. Robinson

#31132 Frederik E. Lewis

#31531 John P. Murphy

#36365 William F. Henchel

#36837 Nicholas Christow

#37551 James B. Latell

#37871 Scott F. Harvey

#39469 Harry E. Cosgriff

 

American Emblem

#40444 Robert M. Duncan

#40543 Lyman S. Frasier

#41245 Edwards H. Darmstadt

#43302 James McDill

 

That's it for the PHs. Nos. 41222 and 45019 had small OLCs. Sorry for the duplicates. I don't keep records for the other medals.

 

Regards

Herman

[CorsairAce]

I ended up passing on a PH with a thumbnail on it. Pvt Edward J. Bradbury #91291 165th Inf WIA

[LuftStalg1]

TOLC list (Update: 26/Apr/16)

 

Corrected: MacArthur for Patton (Dough) to many pages open at once!

Added: Vogal, Coccinos, Ratliff, Espinosa, MacLane, King, Jepko, Lewis, Murphy, Henchel, Latell, Cosgriff, McDill, Bradbury

 

 

 

Earliest known award (17 Dec 1919) Luke Gaffey -DSC.

Last known award (2 Feb 1934) David Skinner -SS.

 

Ayers, Maurice: PH #?
Bartlett, William: PH #18941
Bradbury, Edward J: PH #91291
Breithauupt, Erwin: PH #22155
Burns, George: PH #13535
Castura, Michael: DSC #6816
Christow, Nicholas: PH #36837
Clements, John: PH #?
Coccinos, George: PH #9452
Coffenberg, ?: PH #11336
Cosgriff, Harvey E: PH #39469
Croka, ?: PH #28639
Darmstadt, Edward: PH #?
Duncan, Robert: PH #40444
Dunlap, George: PH #2588
Espinosa, Rossi: PH #18208
Frasier, Lyman: PH 40314
Gaffey, Luke: DSC #1232
Greenleaf, Frank: PH #751
Harvey, Scott: PH #37871
Hayden, David: PH #? (MOH)
Henchel, William F: PH #36365
Jackson, Charles: PH #7380
Jacobs, Albert: PH #22228
Jepko, Metro: PH #27134
Jones, Robert: PH #16396
King, Walter W: PH #25572
Knipe, William: PH #3286
Latell, James B: PH #37551
Lawler, ?: SS #798
Lewis, Frederic E: PH #31132
Ratliff, Glen W: PH #12049
MacArthur, Douglas: PH #1, SS #?, DSC #?
MacLane, Virgil D: PH #21593
McDill, James: PH #43302
McElhone, Thomas: PH #4155
Moore, William: PH #27162
Murdock, Clarence: PH #11564
Murphy, John P: PH #31531
Reynolds, John: PH #7546
Robinson, Asa B: PH #29394
Schneller, John: PH #16821
Skinner, David: SS #6518
Tompkins, Frank: PH #?
Vogal, John: PH # 7233
Wasilewski, Stanislaus: PH #22187
?,?: DSM #4014 (Noted by TomNier 1985 auction)

 

 

 

Thanks to the following members for supplying data for this list.

 

5STARCHRIS, Adam R, kcmo, tarbridge, Hermanus, bobgee, kanemono, swabbie, Bill_Carman, scottplen, austino, ww1collecto, bazsi, rrgeee, TomNier, Luftstalag1, ww1collector, nbolinger, CorsairAce.

[4STARCHRIS]

I check and see if this corresponds to all the pics I may have as well.

4starchris AKA 5stachris. LOL

[LuftStalg1]

TNOL List (Update: 27/Apr/2016)

 

 

Added: MacArthur #'s added to SS and DSC.; Meltzer, Saul PH#26474

 

Ayers, Maurice: PH #?
Bartlett, William: PH #18941
Bradbury, Edward J: PH #91291
Breithauupt, Erwin: PH #22155
Burns, George: PH #13535
Castura, Michael: DSC #6816
Christow, Nicholas: PH #36837
Clements, John: PH #?
Coccinos, George: PH #9452
Coffenberg, ?: PH #11336
Cosgriff, Harvey E: PH #39469
Croka, ?: PH #28639
Darmstadt, Edward: PH #?
Duncan, Robert: PH #40444
Dunlap, George: PH #2588
Espinosa, Rossi: PH #18208
Frasier, Lyman: PH 40314
Gaffey, Luke: DSC #1232
Greenleaf, Frank: PH #751
Harvey, Scott: PH #37871
Hayden, David: PH #? (MOH)
Henchel, William F: PH #36365
Jackson, Charles: PH #7380
Jacobs, Albert: PH #22228
Jepko, Metro: PH #27134
Jones, Robert: PH #16396
King, Walter W: PH #25572
Knipe, William: PH #3286
Latell, James B: PH #37551
Lawler, ?: SS #798
Lewis, Frederic E: PH #31132
Ratliff, Glen W: PH #12049
MacArthur, Douglas: PH #1; SS #1; DSC #67 (#5398, #16353)
MacLane, Virgil D: PH #21593
McDill, James: PH #43302
McElhone, Thomas: PH #4155
Meltzer, Saul: PH #26474
Moore, William: PH #27162
Murdock, Clarence: PH #11564
Murphy, John P: PH #31531
Reynolds, John: PH #7546
Robinson, Asa B: PH #29394
Schneller, John: PH #16821
Skinner, David: SS #6518
Tompkins, Frank: PH #?
Vogal, John: PH # 7233
Wasilewski, Stanislaus: PH #22187
?,?: DSM #4014 (Noted by TomNier 1985 auction)

 

Thanks to the following members for supplying data for this list.

 

4STARCHRIS, Adam R, kcmo, tarbridge, Hermanus, bobgee, kanemono, swabbie, Bill_Carman, scottplen, austino, ww1collecto, bazsi, rrgeee, TomNier, Luftstalag1, ww1collector, nbolinger, CorsairAce

 

P.S. Chris rejected the promotion to 5 star due to the lack of increase in pay but not work!

[emccomas]

Well done Mark, great start to a great topic.

 

I too am puzzled by the refusal of 4starchris to accept promotion. However, since he is a 4 star, and I was an E5, I will say yes sir and let it go.

[LuftStalg1]

Thanks Ed, and you make a good point. Sir, yes sir!

 

 

An interesting tid bit from the MacArthur Museum, his original DSC #36 was lost in the Philippines when he left and #5398 was a replacement. They gave no reason for the third one #16353. Also I find it interesting that he chose, and had one available, the second thumbnail to use on his DSC drap when it was received in 1945 rather than convert them all to the smaller authorized version of the device!? Maybe he found the larger device more flashy and preferred them to be more prominent. I have never seen a photo of MacArthur wearing all his medals like the one Patton had made but MacArthur did create his own hat so I think maybe he like a wee bit of attention.

 

I think staring at this would be a bit intimidating!

[Hermanus]

As PH #43054 (not a TOLC PH) was issued on 2-21-1934, the TOLC PH #43302 issued to James McDill was beyond the date of the SS to David Skinner.

 

Furthermore I doubt that PH # 91291 issued to Edwards J. Bradbury had a TOLC. I think it is a normal small OLC.

[LuftStalg1]

As PH #43054 (not a TOLC PH) was issued on 2-21-1934, the TOLC PH #43302 issued to James McDill was beyond the date of the SS to David Skinner.

 

Furthermore I doubt that PH # 91291 issued to Edwards J. Bradbury had a TOLC. I think it is a normal small OLC.

 

Hermanus,

 

McDill was provided by YOU. You did not send me the data I ask for to correspond with any of the PH you suggested and I took it all in good faith as stated with the opening of this thread. If you are just guessing / speculating at some of these please say so and they can be marked as such.

 

 

As noted earlier McArthur has a TOLC for his 1945 issued PH so there may be some "anomalies" with this list as well.

 

 

This bears to question could someone, other then McArthur, request, seek out or otherwise use a TOLC device on their PH/SS/DSC for action in WW1?

 

 

As for Bradbury, that was provided by CorsairAce as one he "passed on it" and should be noted as not Plausible. I don't have data on the "action" date or "award" date for Bradbury so it could also be an anomaly or personal choice or fake.

 

 

Please provide photos and data with future submissions when possible.

[LuftStalg1]

TOLC List (Update: 28/Apr/2016)

 

Edit: (*) for questionable at the moment

 

Ayers, Maurice: PH #?
Bartlett, William: PH #18941
(*)Bradbury, Edward J: PH #91291
Breithauupt, Erwin: PH #22155
Burns, George: PH #13535
Castura, Michael: DSC #6816
Christow, Nicholas: PH #36837
Clements, John: PH #?
Coccinos, George: PH #9452
Coffenberg, ?: PH #11336
Cosgriff, Harvey E: PH #39469
Croka, ?: PH #28639
Darmstadt, Edward: PH #?
Duncan, Robert: PH #40444
Dunlap, George: PH #2588
Espinosa, Rossi: PH #18208
Frasier, Lyman: PH 40314
Gaffey, Luke: DSC #1232
Greenleaf, Frank: PH #751
Harvey, Scott: PH #37871
Hayden, David: PH #? (MOH)
Henchel, William F: PH #36365
Jackson, Charles: PH #7380
Jacobs, Albert: PH #22228
Jepko, Metro: PH #27134
Jones, Robert: PH #16396
King, Walter W: PH #25572
Knipe, William: PH #3286
Latell, James B: PH #37551
Lawler, ?: SS #798
Lewis, Frederic E: PH #31132
Ratliff, Glen W: PH #12049
MacArthur, Douglas: PH #1; SS #1; DSC #67 (#5398, #16353)
MacLane, Virgil D: PH #21593
(*)McDill, James: PH #43302
McElhone, Thomas: PH #4155
Meltzer, Saul: PH #26474
Moore, William: PH #27162
Murdock, Clarence: PH #11564
Murphy, John P: PH #31531
Reynolds, John: PH #7546
Robinson, Asa B: PH #29394
Schneller, John: PH #16821
Skinner, David: SS #6518
Tompkins, Frank: PH #?
Vogal, John: PH # 7233
Wasilewski, Stanislaus: PH #22187
(*)?,?: DSM #4014 (Noted by TomNier 1985 auction)

 

 

Thanks to the following members for supplying data for this list.

 

4STARCHRIS, Adam R, kcmo, tarbridge, Hermanus, bobgee, kanemono, swabbie, Bill_Carman, scottplen, austino, ww1collecto, bazsi, rrgeee, TomNier, Luftstalag1, ww1collector, nbolinger, CorsairAce

[LuftStalg1]

Meltzer PH from eMedals past sale list.

[LuftStalg1]

Ellis Silver Star

 

Notice the oxidation of the star in the center. Makes me think of the missing central star on MacArthur's medal and how it may have happened.

[LuftStalg1]

Vienckdwski set.

[LuftStalg1]

Vienckdwski front.

[LuftStalg1]

While working on this I could not resist making a plastic copy of the TOLC to use in a display. Here is my first attempt, I still have to clean the excess from the edges but I think it came out pretty darn nice.

 

 

[LuftStalg1]

The data is somewhat unreliable without the [DATE ISSUED] from the AGO card as well as [MEDAL NUMBER] from AGO card for any replacement medals. At worst this will give us a (+/-) of a few hundred from the real medal number, which seems to be typical. This will help to clarify some of the questionable data points.

 

TNOLC List (Update: 29/Apr/2016)

Added: Ellis (SS), Vienckdwski (PH), Gilman(PH),

Changed list format and added date issued [Month/Day/Year]

(*) Need documentation (Questionable)

DSC
#6816 [WW1] Castura, Michael
#1232 [12/17/19] Gaffey, Luke
#67 [3/?/33] MacArthur, Douglas (#5398, #16353)

 

DSM
(*)#4014 [] (Noted by TomNier 1985 auction)

 

SS

#798 [?/?/32] Lawler, ?
#1 [3/?/33] MacArthur, Douglas
#32 [] Ellis, Richard
#6518 [2/2/34] Skinner, David

 

PH
#1 [2/22/32] MacArthur, Douglas
#751 [4/14/32] Greenleaf, Frank
#2588 [5/18/32] Dunlap, George
#3286 [5/23/32] Knipe, William
#4155 [] McElhone, Thomas
#7233 [] Vogal, John
#7380 [6/7/32] Jackson, Charles
#7546 [7/11/32] Reynolds, John
#9452 [] Coccinos, George
#9603 [] Vienckowski, Zysmont
#11336 [8/5/32] Coffenberg, ?
#11564 [] Murdock, Clarence
#12049 [] Ratliff, Glen W
#13535 [8/20/32] Burns, George
#16396 [9/14/32] Jones, Robert (also 12/14/33)
#16821 [] Schneller, John
#18208 [] Espinosa, Rossi
#18941 [10/10/32] Bartlett, William
#21593 [] MacLane, Virgil D
#22155 [11/8/32] Breithauupt, Erwin
#22187 [11/4/32] Wasilewski, Stanislaus
#22228 [11/14/32] Jacobs, Albert
#25572 [] King, Walter W
#26474 [] Meltzer, Saul
#27134 [] Jepko, Metro
#27162 [1/6/33] Moore, William
#28639 [1/20/33] Croka, ?
#29394 [2/1/32] Robinson, Asa B
#31132 [] Lewis, Frederic E
#31531 [] Murphy, John P
#36365 [] Henchel, William F
#36837 [5/24/34] Christow, Nicholas (AGO card)
#37551 [] Latell, James B
#37871 [6/22/32] Harvey, Scott
#39469 [] Cosgriff, Harvey E
#40314 [10/14/33] Frasier, Lyman
#40444 [10/11/33] Duncan, Robert
(*)#43302 [] McDill, James
(*)#83546 [4/28/33] Clements, John (Stated as replacement medal)
(*)#91291 [5/10/32] Bradbury, Edward J
#? [] Ayers, Maurice
#? [3/15/32] Tompkins, Frank
#? [] Hayden, David: (MOH)
#? [] Gilman, James
#? [] Clements, John
#? [] Darmstadt, Edward
#? [] Vienckdwski, Zygmont

 

Thanks to the following members for supplying data for this list.

4STARCHRIS, Adam R, kcmo, tarbridge, Hermanus, bobgee, kanemono, swabbie, Bill_Carman, scottplen, austino, ww1collecto, bazsi, rrgeee, TomNier, Luftstalag1, ww1collector, nbolinger, CorsairAce

[kcmo]

Here is my latest find for just out of an estate sale for the list named to John T. Horan. Purple heart is numbered 24540

[bobv]

Vienckdwski set.

 

 

Vienckdwski front.

 

Sir:

 

These are my grandfather Zygmont Vienckowski's medals and he has been missing since 1934.

How in the world did you come in to possession of these?

 

Sincerely,

 

bobv

[LuftStalg1]

TNOLC List (Update: 18/Dec/2018)

Added: John T. Horan (PH)

 

(*) Need documentation (Questionable)

 

DSC
#6816 [WW1] Castura, Michael
#1232 [12/17/19] Gaffey, Luke
#67 [3/?/33] MacArthur, Douglas (#5398, #16353)

 

DSM
(*)#4014 [] (Noted by TomNier 1985 auction)

 

SS

#798 [?/?/32] Lawler, ?
#1 [3/?/33] MacArthur, Douglas
#32 [] Ellis, Richard
#6518 [2/2/34] Skinner, David

PH
#1 [2/22/32] MacArthur, Douglas
#751 [4/14/32] Greenleaf, Frank
#2588 [5/18/32] Dunlap, George
#3286 [5/23/32] Knipe, William
#4155 [] McElhone, Thomas
#7233 [] Vogal, John
#7380 [6/7/32] Jackson, Charles
#7546 [7/11/32] Reynolds, John
#9452 [] Coccinos, George
#9603 [] Vienckowski, Zysmont
#11336 [8/5/32] Coffenberg, ?
#11564 [] Murdock, Clarence
#12049 [] Ratliff, Glen W
#13535 [8/20/32] Burns, George
#16396 [9/14/32] Jones, Robert (also 12/14/33)
#16821 [] Schneller, John
#18208 [] Espinosa, Rossi
#18941 [10/10/32] Bartlett, William
#21593 [] MacLane, Virgil D
#22155 [11/8/32] Breithauupt, Erwin

#22187 [11/4/32] Wasilewski, Stanislaus

#24540 [11/28/32] John T. Horan

#22228 [11/14/32] Jacobs, Albert

#25572 [] King, Walter W
#26474 [] Meltzer, Saul
#27134 [] Jepko, Metro
#27162 [1/6/33] Moore, William
#28639 [1/20/33] Croka, ?
#29394 [2/1/32] Robinson, Asa B
#31132 [] Lewis, Frederic E
#31531 [] Murphy, John P
#36365 [] Henchel, William F
#36837 [5/24/34] Christow, Nicholas (AGO card)
#37551 [] Latell, James B
#37871 [6/22/32] Harvey, Scott
#39469 [] Cosgriff, Harvey E
#40314 [10/14/33] Frasier, Lyman
#40444 [10/11/33] Duncan, Robert
(*)#43302 [] McDill, James
(*)#83546 [4/28/33] Clements, John (Stated as replacement medal)
(*)#91291 [5/10/32] Bradbury, Edward J
#? [] Ayers, Maurice
#? [3/15/32] Tompkins, Frank
#? [] Hayden, David: (MOH)
#? [] Gilman, James
#? [] Clements, John
#? [] Darmstadt, Edward
#? [] Vienckdwski, Zygmont

 

Thanks for the addition KCMO!

[kcmo]

Luftstag,

 

Here is another one.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/287057-a-family-of-service;-fatherson-purple-hearts/

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

I have here the TOLC'd medal of LTC. John B. Schneller, but with an added twist. I have a copy of the AGO showing that the medal was CANCELLED less than a year after its issue, purportedly because it was found he had awarded himself the wound stripes in 1918. I hope this information is useful.

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

Just now, Michael the Young AEF Guy said:

I have here the TOLC'd medal of LTC. John B. Schneller, but with an added twist. I have a copy of the AGO showing that the medal was CANCELLED less than a year after its issue, purportedly because it was found he had awarded himself the wound stripes in 1918. I hope this information is useful.

Despite this cancellation, he is still recorded as a recipient in a 1945 newspaper, 12 years later.