Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Share #1 Posted February 19, 2020 Could use some help here, So i'm on the fence with these, There is a named USAF medal and a Army commendation medal named in this grouping, I found a James A Means who was awarded the SS in Korea, But he was a Navy Corpsman. I know it's not impossible for a guy to be in 3 separate branches of service but it's odd. Also i'm unsure of the engraving. replacements? issue? The Bronze star just has his initials. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted February 19, 2020 Also it appears these came out of a shadow box because some of them have hot glue on the back. The SS,BS,PH are WW2 era medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 19, 2020 Share #3 Posted February 19, 2020 Im sure some will want more full detaileed pictures but looking at the SS.PH,BS they look like WW2 era medals awarded at a later date which isnt uncommon to see even for Vietnam awards to be older stock.I have a SS to aa Helicopter pilot if correctly identified.Also had the opprtunity to see a 101st KIA SS annd PH in the familes hands that were W2 medals.My USN and USMC Purple hearts from Vietnam are both WW2 eras medal engraved during Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 19, 2020 Share #4 Posted February 19, 2020 How do you know he was a corpsman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted February 19, 2020 Yeah, i talked to a guy alittle while ago that knew him, said he was in WW2 and Korea. Was a police officer in the 60's. I was thinking these are probably post war and just NOS medals. I'll try and do some better pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted February 19, 2020 How do you know he was a corpsman? I searched his name on one of the online award sights and the document? came up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted February 19, 2020 this is what i found James Means - Recipient -.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted February 19, 2020 ss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted February 19, 2020 PH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted February 19, 2020 BS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted February 19, 2020 USAF and Army commendations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 19, 2020 Share #12 Posted February 19, 2020 Any good conduct medals or campaign medals included in frame ?? Multiple Air Force guys with this name on find a grave site ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 19, 2020 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2020 Im getting a Vietnam Air Force vibe ? Also could have been in one service and served under army and Air Force command to get commendation medals ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted February 19, 2020 Just a Korean service and a national defense medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted February 19, 2020 Share #15 Posted February 19, 2020 Weren't AF guys getting Army Commendation medals until they created their own? Possible earlier award and then another AFCOM down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 19, 2020 Share #16 Posted February 19, 2020 Nara enlistment has one James A Means enlisting in Air Corp 1942 from Erie Pa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron3-6 Posted February 19, 2020 Share #17 Posted February 19, 2020 FYI, there is no Silver Star record card in the AAF / USAF NARA cards that cover WWII and Korea so his SSM is probably from another branch. I might add his AF serial number looks like a WWII voluntary enlistment block from 7th Corps (Great Plains)....a lot of those records didn't scan into the Nara enlistment database. This guy might've been Army ground forces in WWII and then switched to USAF (they would add the AF on his old serial number). However, did find his 2 commendation records: The USAF got it's own commendation medal in 1958 and quit wearing the Army style....hence one award is from 1957 (Army style) and 1961, new USAF style. At least these records give you his SN for more research. For anyone interested, the database of award cards is here: (a little tough to navigate, but worth the effort) I didn't check the BSM record, might be something there? https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=*:*&f.ancestorNaIds=4530002&sort=naIdSort%20asc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #18 Posted February 19, 2020 Oh thats great info! thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #19 Posted February 19, 2020 How about Navy? I found that record of a guy with the same name as being a Navy corpsman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 19, 2020 Share #20 Posted February 19, 2020 Here's an older discussion about "other service" awards: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/70101-usaf-air-medal-ribbon-rack-with-navy-ribbon/ I have just recently found a Marine officer's ribbon rack with an Army Commendation Medal he received in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share #21 Posted February 20, 2020 I just realized something, The Purple Heart has a gold star so that makes it US Navy right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 20, 2020 Share #22 Posted February 20, 2020 I just realized something, The Purple Heart has a gold star so that makes it US Navy right? Well that helps ! most likely your guy is right then USN from Korea joined Air Force later ! Engravings on SS PH and BS are privately done but the other medals seem officially engraved IMO. Great group ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share #23 Posted February 20, 2020 Then that silver star certificate i found online is his. It said he was wounded in the same action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 20, 2020 Share #24 Posted February 20, 2020 I would write for his file . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantomf4 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share #25 Posted February 20, 2020 Yes i think your right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now