ID on a ribbon?

[Captainofthe7th]

I need some help on this one:

 

 

Army of Occupation, Medal for Humane Action, and what??? It's not WWI occupation or POW ribbon...

 

The back is a single sheet of metal with clutchbacks, no slots to put devices through. It seems foreign made.

 

Rob

[Bluehawk]

I believe that one could be Cuban Pacification... but, I'm no expert.

 

Link see:

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/C...N%20MEDAL1.html

 

Apparently it is most often associated with US Army, though I have found it in US Navy references too.

[Captainofthe7th]

Thanks Hawk,

 

It's definitely closer than anything else I looked at. The only difference is this one has a thin white border on the edges. It also seems like an early ribbon to have with others from the late 40s. Otherwise, it could be it.

 

Rob

[seanmc1114]

I have had the same ribbon for years and never knew what it is was. It was with a group on three rows of ribbon bars with these other ribbons: Bronze Star, Navy Commendation, World War II Victory, Navy Occupation, National Defense Service, Korean Service and UN Korean Service. I assume based on the other ribbons it was with that it would have been earned sometime after WWII into the 1950's.

[Bluehawk]

Thanks Hawk,

 

It's definitely closer than anything else I looked at. The only difference is this one has a thin white border on the edges. It also seems like an early ribbon to have with others from the late 40s. Otherwise, it could be it.

 

Rob

Makes me wonder if the bar isn't a "put-together" series?

[Captainofthe7th]

It's 100% real. Came out of a box of "Used Ribbons" at the surplus store. Nothing but good stuff in there....so I can guarantee it's vintage.

 

Rob

[Bluehawk]

It's 100% real. Came out of a box of "Used Ribbons" at the surplus store. Nothing but good stuff in there....so I can guarantee it's vintage.

 

Rob

Not questioning the vintage of the ribbon(s), but only the possibility of that particular set of three having been assembled using one or more loose ribbons that did not belong with the other(s)?

 

Since two of them seem to be of same era and one not? Wouldn't be THAT unlikely for one to get slid on there to fill out a bar... probably happens quite frequently from "grandpa's old stuff in a shoebox"?

[seanmc1114]

Makes me wonder if the bar isn't a "put-together" series?

Well, I'm pretty sure it isn't a Cuban Pacification ribbon because of the extra white stripe on each end. Also, if it's a put together, my series of ribbons would have to be also. But my ribbons and the ones pictured are both from the same era - late 40's to early 50's. That's too much of a coincidence for me.

[Bluehawk]

Well, I'm pretty sure it isn't a Cuban Pacification ribbon because of the extra white stripe on each end. Also, if it's a put together, my series of ribbons would have to be also. But my ribbons and the ones pictured are both from the same era - late 40's to early 50's. That's too much of a coincidence for me.

Yup... I guess we didn't hit it after all, yet.

 

Seems real strange though for that ribbon to be SO close to the Cuban one though, eh? Usually they try real hard toi make them very distinctly different, right?

[Captainofthe7th]

I think they usually do, but the WWI/current CT service medal and the Marine Security Guard ribbon are nearly identical.

 

This is the WWI medal...the current one is a bit different but the ribbon is the same:

 

 

And the USMC Security Guard Ribbon:

 

http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/mc_security.shtml

 

[Bluehawk]

Amazing... they did this on purpose, right?

[harrier9601]

Link see:

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/C...N%20MEDAL1.html

 

Is it just my computer, or is the Institute of Heraldry showing black as the center color of the Cuban Pacification ribbon? The center stripe should be tannish/olive in color. I have a length of the mystery ribbon that came with a group of WWII vintage items, but unfortunately I don't know what it is either. Here's a comparison with the Cuban Pacification ribbon:

 

[Bluehawk]

Whoa!

 

This is getting interestinger and interestinger.

 

What the heck IS this thing?

 

- Why would TIOH leave out that last little white stripe?

 

- Why would this ribbon not appear among any other branch listings?

 

- Could this ribbon have been one of those foreign ones authorized for wear on US uniforms?

[atb]

Whoa!

 

This is getting interestinger and interestinger.

 

What the heck IS this thing?

 

- Why would TIOH leave out that last little white stripe?

 

- Why would this ribbon not appear among any other branch listings?

 

- Could this ribbon have been one of those foreign ones authorized for wear on US uniforms?

IOH didn't leave out a stripe. It is obviously not the Army of Cuban Pacification ribbon.

 

It could be several things-- a state or city medal, a foreign award (authorized or unauthorized), a veteran's organization award or badge, a souvenir ribbon added by the wearor or a ribbon made by a manufacturer in the mistaken belief that it is an authorized design. Many groups have ribbons besides the US military, so nailing it down may be tough. I hope someone has a revelation and can provide an identification soon.

[JBFloyd]

Washington National Guard Achievement Medal.

[Captainofthe7th]

Thank You Jeff!

 

Rob

[MPage]

Indeed, in 1961 Washington National Guard members were activated for the Berlin Crisis and the Berlin Airlift - the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (according to the internet).

[camonick]

Is it just my computer, or is the Institute of Heraldry showing black as the center color of the Cuban Pacification ribbon? The center stripe should be tannish/olive in color. I have a length of the mystery ribbon that came with a group of WWII vintage items, but unfortunately I don't know what it is either. Here's a comparison with the Cuban Pacification ribbon:

 

 

I followed this thread for a while and found the "answer" about 1 day after JBFloyd. I look at a "rack-builder" site (LINK) here. They seem to have a lot of choices, I just wish there was a discription included with each.

As far as the length of mystery ribbon, without knowing the exact age, it could still remain a mystery. As I was recently looking for the ID of some other ribbons for another post, I stumbled across another identical ribbon. The Missouri National Guard has a ribbon called the Governor's Twelve (for 12 yrs of service). I'm sure it doesn't fit the time period covered in Rob's original question, but may be a possibility for harrier9601.

 

Just something to "kick" around

Nick

[Mark M]

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