Difference between those two ribbons

[Sargavius]

Hello,

Been looking at some pre-ww1 campaigns recently and got confused by those two ribbons supposedly of the same medal, the spanish war service medal, given to active duty personnel who was not deployed into combat. 

As you can see, one has thinner green stripes and also strange blue stripes, while the other is the classic ribbon.

Can anyone explain me what this strange ribbon is? Some weird pre spanish campaign ribbon?

 

Thanks

Alberto

[atb]

The top one may be a state ribbon, especially since it has those stars attached. Many state national guard ribbons resemble other state's or other ribbon bars.

[Sargavius]

Could be, if so what state could it be? 

Let's hope for some expert to remove all doubts 

[AustinO]

The bottom ribbon is for Mexican border service c1917. 

[atb]

9 minutes ago, AustinO said:

The bottom ribbon is for Mexican border service c1917. 

No, it's Spanish War Service.

[Sargavius]

The mexican border service has only one big yellow stripe at the center 

[atb]

33 minutes ago, Sargavius said:

Could be, if so what state could it be? 

Let's hope for some expert to remove all doubts 

Google US state National Guard ribbon bars. There's a lot of them 

[Sargavius]

Been searching it and apparently there is no ribbon like that that I could find. 

I remember seeing it once on an inter war uniform of a Nebraska major but this ribbon has nothing to do with Nebraska 

[Edelweisse]

FYI ribbons on Spanish vs. Mexican US medals

[KevinBeyer]

On 12/14/2025 at 4:38 AM, Sargavius said:

Hello,

Been looking at some pre-ww1 campaigns recently and got confused by those two ribbons supposedly of the same medal, the spanish war service medal, given to active duty personnel who was not deployed into combat. 

As you can see, one has thinner green stripes and also strange blue stripes, while the other is the classic ribbon.

Can anyone explain me what this strange ribbon is? Some weird pre spanish campaign ribbon?

 

Thanks

Alberto

 

According to Allen Menke, this is the ribbon for the Spanish War Service Medal (Type 1) submitted by Bailey, Banks, and Biddle, which was never adopted, nor approved. 

 

[Retired Army Noncom]

Sorry. wrong place.