Jump to content

odd ribbon bar found in pocket of Battle of the Bulge veteran


Adrian6256
 Share

Recommended Posts

Adrian6256

hello,

i just acquired a grouping form a veteran of the battle of the bulge. he saw service in Europe as an engineer with Pattons Third Army, and was transferred to the Philippines in mid 1945 to the end of the war. i found this ribbon bar in his pocket separate form the rest of his ribbons. i was wondering if its familiar to anyone? I've tried researching this ribbon, but Ive had no luck so far. Thanks very much.

 

-Adrian

post-158668-0-53702800-1463497830.jpg

post-158668-0-71047300-1463497842.jpg

post-158668-0-08736400-1463497850.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WW1 occupation ribbon bar.These are often found in WW2 groups.Most were given out we assume due to being in the system or avaiable to discharged vets who were in the occupation early

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Adrian6256

WoW!! i was researching in the wrong war the whole time!! Thanks Doyler. You have been a great help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

JMcCulloch

There is a hypothesis that suggests that these were awarded between 1947 and mid 1948. The Occupation medal for US army troops was authorized in early/mid 1947, although discussed as early as the Fall of 1946.

The actual Army Occupation Medal was first awarded in 1948- almost coincidental with the Navy/Marine Corps version ( which was authorized in early 1948).

The Pentagon debate centered around some sort of award to signify service in occupied Europe, as occupation service was not easy nor all that fun at the time. US troops had to restore civil order amongst chaos, catch ex Nazis, stop rampant criminality, feed millions of starving refugees, combat outbreaks of typhus, diptheria and even malaria in Italy. Then of course there was the hostility of the Stalinists......who were busy taking over eastern Europe.

However, Truman did not sign the actual termination of the war Act until late 1946 ( for political reasons, mostly due to funding and the GI Bill debates) and the official closing date of World War Two, signified by the WW2 victory medal, was Midnight, December 31,1946. The Pentagon had (and still purportedly has) a strict " only one medal per each campaign rule. Thus, Occupation service technically was supposed to start as of January 1, 1947.

Given the new Occupation medals were not actually given out until the late summer of 1948 and the final design itself was not finalized until January/February (?) of 1948.....it is thought that soldiers were first issued the old style occupation ribbon until the newer version superceded the old WW1.

post-4995-0-18515900-1463507666.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The right is the "China Liberation Ribbon" and is a foreign award. I believe that the colors in the ribbon and that of the Army of Occupation ribbons are purely coincidental.

As an aside, I have encountered these in the effects of navy and marine veterans who left service prior to 1947. I have not encountered this ribbons worn by sailors and marines who didn't end up serving in China.

 

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a hypothesis that suggests that these were awarded between 1947 and mid 1948. The Occupation medal for US army troops was authorized in early/mid 1947, although discussed as early as the Fall of 1946.

The actual Army Occupation Medal was first awarded in 1948- almost coincidental with the Navy/Marine Corps version ( which was authorized in early 1948).

The Pentagon debate centered around some sort of award to signify service in occupied Europe, as occupation service was not easy nor all that fun at the time. US troops had to restore civil order amongst chaos, catch ex Nazis, stop rampant criminality, feed millions of starving refugees, combat outbreaks of typhus, diptheria and even malaria in Italy. Then of course there was the hostility of the Stalinists......who were busy taking over eastern Europe.

However, Truman did not sign the actual termination of the war Act until late 1946 ( for political reasons, mostly due to funding and the GI Bill debates) and the official closing date of World War Two, signified by the WW2 victory medal, was Midnight, December 31,1946. The Pentagon had (and still purportedly has) a strict " only one medal per each campaign rule. Thus, Occupation service technically was supposed to start as of January 1, 1947.

Given the new Occupation medals were not actually given out until the late summer of 1948 and the final design itself was not finalized until January/February (?) of 1948.....it is thought that soldiers were first issued the old style occupation ribbon until the newer version superceded the old WW1.

This is interesting info. I think the WWII era Army Occupation ribbon may have been awarded/used prior to 1948 though. This would track with the sequence for the WWII campaign medals (ribbon first, then the actual medal). I've had the WWII version of this ribbon on uniforms and in groups named to guys that didn't serve past '46/'47. Also the Victory medal wasn't/isn't a campaign medal per se. It has it's own category, so I don't see that the occupation medal authorized date would have to follow the end date of the WWII victory medal. More likely it is tied to the end dates for the EAME and PTO campaign medals...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

JMcCulloch

DOH!

Thanks for the China ribbon info. I do not know how I missed that. Sometimes I am just... stupid.

I am certain I have photos somewhere of an AAC Captain with the occupation ribbon in 1947. He was home in 1948. I just have to find them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

JMcCulloch

So, following on my China misidentification, this must be a " navy" top bar, as how could one have a China liberation medal without a China service medal ( Straits of Formosa service?). ...so the "sailor" probably had a China service with star, a ConUS and a Pacific campaign ribbon, minimum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I imagine that vets of the CBI could have had the China Liberation without China Service

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...
JMcCulloch
On 5/21/2016 at 8:08 AM, Kadet said:

This is interesting info. I think the WWII era Army Occupation ribbon may have been awarded/used prior to 1948 though. This would track with the sequence for the WWII campaign medals (ribbon first, then the actual medal). I've had the WWII version of this ribbon on uniforms and in groups named to guys that didn't serve past '46/'47. Also the Victory medal wasn't/isn't a campaign medal per se. It has it's own category, so I don't see that the occupation medal authorized date would have to follow the end date of the WWII victory medal. More likely it is tied to the end dates for the EAME and PTO campaign medals...

 I just picked up a photo taken in December, 1945 of a Lieutenant in the 83rd ID and he is wearing an old ( WW1)  style occupation ribbon..... but no victory ribbon. He born in 21’, was drafted in 1942 and discharged in March, 1946 so it makes me wonder if older ribbons were awarded/ self awarded by troops in Germany. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BILL THE PATCH

That was common, I have uniforms with that ribbon it was used instead of victory ribbon. That's the theory anyway

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...