Two place ribbon bar from the flea market dollar box

[Old Marine]

Flea markets are a great source for finding items, but they can be frustrating at times.  I found this two place ribbon in the dollar junk box.  The seller had no other military items and had no idea where the ribbons came from, or even knew what they were.

 

Wouldn’t you love to know the history of this ribbon bar and how it ended up in a Philly parking lot flea market.  Anyway, it’s a good original piece.

 

 

[Blacksmith]

That is an awesome find, my friend, congrats.  It appears that maybe that middle star is silver (?), so would represent seven campaigns.  

[GIKyle]

Great bar - would definitely love to know it's story.  

[warguy]

3 hours ago, Blacksmith said:

That is an awesome find, my friend, congrats.  It appears that maybe that middle star is silver (?), so would represent seven campaigns.  

Wouldn't it be eight campaigns. 5 for the silver star, two for each gold star and then the ribbon itself??? Maybe I am confusing it with the way the oak leaves work? Nice bar regardless of course. 

[Blacksmith]

5 hours ago, warguy said:

Wouldn't it be eight campaigns. 5 for the silver star, two for each gold star and then the ribbon itself??? Maybe I am confusing it with the way the oak leaves work? Nice bar regardless of course. 

Good question, my friend - especially with introducing the concept of stars versus OLCs.  
 

I have always understood campaign medal devices to represent specificity, versus a count of awards.  

 

The medal itself denotes that the wearer served in a large defined geographical area (theatre) between two particular dates - earning the award proper.  The stars represent participation in specific campaigns within that area during that time.
 

So, it’s conceivable that one could serve in the ETO between the specified dates, not participate in any of the defined campaigns, and wear the EAME ribbon without any devices.  
 

Using a well-known soldier as an example:  I understand that Audie Murphy participated in eight qualifying campaigns, two of those during the initial amphibious landings.  So, he wore his EAME with one silver campaign star, three bronze campaign stars, and one arrowhead.  

The arrowhead device confused me for awhile, as I was unclear if it took the place of a star, but it does not.  It’s a “bonus” if you’ll please indulge my use of that term, to indicate initial assault involvement - and only awarded once, no matter how many air or sea invasions one participated in.

 

As with anything in life, I am gladly open to being corrected if I said anything wrong above.  Thanks all.
 

 

[Old Marine]

I think Blacksmith is correct, 7 campaigns.  The ETO medal, the ribbon would be awarded for just serving in the defined area.  One star would be added for each campaign that the individual participated.  An example might be a soldier that was stationed in Iceland mid war.  He served his time guarding Iceland.  When the war ended he was sent home and discharged.  He was deployed to the ETO, Iceland was in the ETO geographical area, and that qualified him for the ETO medal and ribbon but with no stars or arrowheads.  
 

The same kind of scenario would apply to guys sent to garrison the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and Hawaii.  Geographically in the theater but no active participation in the many campaigns.  
 

I hadn’t really noticed the center Star as being silver until Blacksmith pointed it out to me.  Again looking at it under a loupe it does appear silver.  Maybe it’s just age or tarnish, but the ribbons and the stars all have a kind of OD greenish cast to them.  
 

 

[warguy]

Thank you two gentleman for the clarification. I think I crossed wires in my brain last night when I first read this. I have been studying a new acquisition, a well researched British made 8th AAF uniform with a nice sewn ribbon bar for a Navigator awarded two DFC’s, eight Air Medals and five campaign stars on his ETO ribbon. He  has of course just one oakleaf on his DFC, the silver oakleaf and two bronze on his Air medal denoting the eight awards and I was just looking at this yesterday. He indeed does have the five stars on his ETO bar though. Thanks again for clearing the fog. And yes the tarnishing on oakleaf or stars can make the silver hard to make out but under a loupe (at least on some of my uniforms) the difference is unmistakable. 

[gap]

What is the other ribbon bar for? 

[268th C.A.]

Its a Distinguished Service Cross, which makes it a really nice Bar indeed.  

[gap]

Wow, in light of the limited number of soldiers receiving the DSC during WW2, and the extraordinary number of campaigns, is it feasible to locate the original owner. 

[Blacksmith]

45 minutes ago, gap said:

Wow, in light of the limited number of soldiers receiving the DSC during WW2, and the extraordinary number of campaigns, is it feasible to locate the original owner. 

5000+ awarded.  Good thinking, but not sure how one would start that.  

[gap]

It’s possible, if you have a couple years to spare!!!