Merchant Marine and Coast Guard Auxiliary

[ww2-pacific]

Hello Forum,

My name is Jean Louis Vijgen from Holland, currently looking for info about Grand Dad George W. Masters for his Grand Sons.

He served during WW2 in the Merchant Marines and the Coast Guard on the SS John Fitch, hid Grandson took picture's of his Medals/Ribbon/Bars, I think there all together.

so I wrote to the USCG and Merchant Marine and got al lot of info and Links (from NARA) about the Medals.

Got some, buy is there somebody who knows them?

Jean Louis

[FriarChuck]

Looks like most of his service after the Merchant Marine was with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and that’s what about half his ribbon bars are for. Though a lot of them don’t match what the Coast Guard Auxiliary currently awards, so they are probably older ones. His Merchant Marine Awards in order, starting too left are the Combat Bar (means his ship was attack or damaged) , Atlantic War Zone Medal, Mediterranean and Middle East War Zone Medal, Pacific War zone Medal, World War Two victory medal, Philippines Liberation Medal and the Coast Guard Unit Citation (an active coast guard award that can be also awarded to Auxiliaries. Hope this gives you a good start. Neat stuff.

 

Friar 

 

[ww2-pacific]

Hello Friar,

Thanks so much, his Grandson only took the Pic, he doesn't no so its a surprise to him also nice.

The 2 shoulder straps tells somethin about a Flotilla Commander or SO is this a Rank?

Jean Louis

[joeclown]

The last 7 ribbons on the rack are Coast Guard Auxiliary 

Aux. Specialty Training

Aux. Examiner Program

Aux. Instructor

Aux. Service Award

Unknown

Aux. Flotilla Meritorious Achievement

Unknown

[FriarChuck]

I found this website that had the rest of the auxiliary ribbons that joeclown ID’d and the unknown ones

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-08-07&category=UNIFORMS

 

This has a description of the rank insignia.

http://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/054-08-04/Picture4.png

 

Hope these help

 

[ww2-pacific]

Wow, Joeclown and Friar a few of the answers solved by you both on this Forum👍.

Thanks on behave of de Master Clan.

Jean Louis