Unusual USMC General's ribbon set

[Adam R]

This photo of Louis E. Woods stuck me as a bit odd. Specifically, the bottom left of his ribbons where he's wearing the Grand Cordon of the Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner. Normally grand cordon grades of foreign orders are represented in US ribbon sets by a normal width ribbon with an appropriate rosette device. Are the rules different for Chinese Orders? Has anyone seen anything similar in US ribbon sets? (General Wood's other foreign ribbons are the Commander of the Order of the British Empire and the Haitian Order of Honor and Merit.)

[USMCR79]

I have a photo of General Claude Larkin who received the same award - His is the single wide ribbon bar below his US ribbons

 

Nice photo

 

Bill

[Brig]

Where was the photo taken? Perhaps he had the photo taken shortly after presentation, before he could acquire a US sized example? Those foreign awards can be really tough to find for US bars...I have spent 5 years looking for two Brazilian awards for US sliders and had to make my own

[themick]

It may be that the rules are different when you are wearing stars on your shoulder

[uniformcollector]

Here's USAF Chief of Staff General Joseph McConnell's uniform with numerous Chinese decorations:

[roadrunner]

I have two questions on the Legion of Merit ribbon.

 

1. Why he received a oak leaf cluster and not a gold star ?

 

https://www.usmcu.edu/?q=node/3348

"In November 1945, he took command of the First Marine Aircraft Wing at Tientsin, China, and received an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a fourth Legion of Merit for his meritorious performance of duty in providing air support for all Allied Forces in North China."

 

2. The "V" on the Legion of Merit ribbon stands for Valor. In both websites from USMCU and WIKI the first award is not explained.

?

 

Michael

[Allan H.]

Michael,

 

It is funny that you asked the question, because I had wanted to comment about his awards. General Woods was awarded his first three Legions of Merit (to include a V device for valor) by the Department of the Navy. His fourth award of the Legion of Merit came from an Army command. Thus, his ribbon bar shows two gold stars, one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the V device as awarded for valor as a Marine officer in World War II.

 

This is a great photo of a true marine hero.

 

Allan