Civilian Internees PTO

[Jimnz]

Hello

I was reading my old copy of Robles on US awards and have always been intrigued by his reference to the wear of the Asia-Pacific  ribbon (  at the point as the medal hadn't been struck)  by civilian internees in the Santo Thomas camp in the Philippines in WW2. This was authorized by an  order in May 1945 I assume by General MacArthur  so it is quite official. I'd like to know more about this. Does anyone have a copy of the order and a photo of  it's wear by an internee.  Especially did the the Army authorize the full size medal to be issued later? And if so I am assuming the WW2 Victory would not be issued as well. 

All the best

Jim

[swag]

[Jimnz]

Thanks for that. It seems to be more targeted and not a blanket thing. Interesting.

[Allan H.]

I've got a very real and interesting story about this. I was an ROTC cadet in 1985 when I ran across a senior officer at FT Leavenworth wearing a PTO ribbon. By 1985, there were very few Korean War veterans let alone WWII vets since a WWII veteran would have been around 65 years old at the time. This guy was only in his forties. The other unusual thing about his ribbons was a lack or other WWII ribbons.  I had to stop and ask him about his PTO ribbon. It turns out that his dad was a US officer and his mother was pregnant wit him when the Philippines fell. This guy was born in captivity! I was amazed by the story. The officer even pulled out a card that he evidently had to carry with him, showing that he was authorized to wear the ribbon.

 

Truth can be stranger than fiction.

 

Allan

[Jimnz]

Hi that's an amazing story. I wonder if he wore the medal or if only the ribbon was authorized. That card he carried would be interesting.

Thanks

Jim

[Hermanus]

20 hours ago, Allan H. said:

I've got a very real and interesting story about this. I was an ROTC cadet in 1985 when I ran across a senior officer at FT Leavenworth wearing a PTO ribbon. By 1985, there were very few Korean War veterans let alone WWII vets since a WWII veteran would have been around 65 years old at the time. This guy was only in his forties. The other unusual thing about his ribbons was a lack or other WWII ribbons.  I had to stop and ask him about his PTO ribbon. It turns out that his dad was a US officer and his mother was pregnant wit him when the Philippines fell. This guy was born in captivity! I was amazed by the story. The officer even pulled out a card that he evidently had to carry with him, showing that he was authorized to wear the ribbon.

 

Truth can be stranger than fiction.

 

Allan

 

What a remarkable coincidence and what a great story. 

 

Regards 

Herman 

[Jimnz]

Robles also states the Philippines Liberation Ribbon was authorised  ..is this documented as well?

[Allan H.]

The Philippines Liberation ribbon would have been awarded by the Philippines, so I would assume that they would have had to provide the order authorizing its wear. I can tell you with great certainty that the man that I met was not wearing a Philippine Liberation ribbon along with the PTO ribbon. I would assume that had he been authorized to wear it, he would have done so.

 

Allan

[Jimnz]

Thanks for that information...nothing beats actual eyes on experience..it makes sense the Philippines Liberation ribbon would not have been issued..

 

[swag]

While looking for something completely unrelated, I stumbled across these two General Orders from the CBI Theater. One awards the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service ribbon to civilians and war correspondents.

 

Kevin

[Jimnz]

That's very interesting....I wonder what  authority that order of 30th Jan 1945 contained? Was it specific to campaign ribbons ? I would have thought by then commanders in the field would have had local award authority.

Thanks for sharing.

[swag]

My guess is the War Dept. order clarified, changed, or altered the award criteria for the campaign medal.

[Jimnz]

Is there an official list of  categories of non-military groups or individuals who can qualify for the WW2 campaign medals? Like a list I saw for the WW1 Victory medal.

Especially do the members of the WW2 Army Transport Service receive military ribbons or the ribbons of the Merchant Marine?

[swag]

Generally when an award is created, the criteria to receive it is published in that same order announcing the award. Obviously criteria can change at a later date (as it often does). Short of looking at all orders concerning a specific awards eligibility, I don't know if such a list exists for different categories of potential recipients.

As for the ATS, it was absorbed by the Army's Transportation Corps during WW2 so I would assume they would be eligible for Army awards and not Merchant Marine.

[mars&thunder]

Looked up a few of the names of the people on the list of civilians awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon. The ones I could find came up as entertainers who did shows in the Pacific in WW2.

[Jimnz]

Thanks interesting stuff to know