Custom USMC Ribbon Bar

[Brig]

Got this in recently, non-glow, I believe Japanese made?

 

Question, can't find it on my chart, what is the ribbon on the top row, far right for? thanks

[Brig]

rear

[ItemCo16527]

I could swear someone posted a ribbon just like this last year sometime, and I don't think it was ever identified. My best guess would be the Marine Expeditionary Medal based on its placement between the GCM and WWII ribbons. Either the yellow thread faded, or whoever made the bar screwed up and used white instead of yellow.

[CNY Militaria]

Thats a very nice ribbon bar!

[Brig]

dimensions aren't right for expeditionary stripes

[TLHSS]

Brig,

 

I'm probably wrong, but it does resemble a Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Ribbon Bar ...

 

Tim

[vzemke]

I does look to be a Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone campaign ribbon. My guess would be he served in the Merchant Marine for a period of time, probably early WWII, then went into the Marine Corps before the end of th war. Merchant Marine sailors were not authorized the regular military campaign medals for WWII, so he had to be regular military at some point during the war to get the rest of those campaign medals.

 

I hope this helps,

Vance

[Brig]

now that's a very interesting theory...

[teufelhunde.ret]

Bingo...

 

 

Prior to 1992, the Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Medal was a ribbon-only decoration; otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Bar.

 

On May 19, 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the availability of new medals for civilian merchant seamen, in recognition of their service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The medals are being issued to supplement war zone ribbon bars previously awarded to civilian mariners who supported the nation's armed forces in these wars.

 

The new medal design consists of: the compass rose is traditionally associated with maritime navigation and the superimposed triangle with duty and service other than in the Armed Forces. The eagle symbolizes the United States and freedom.

 

[el taco grande]

The ribbon in the post above doesn't really look like the one on the custom ribbon bar. The dimensions aren't right.

[vzemke]

The ribbon in the post above doesn't really look like the one on the custom ribbon bar. The dimensions aren't right.

 

Yes and no. The colors of MM Atlantic War Zone ribbon are such as they are meant to "bleed" from red to white (this is more pronounced on the higher quality WWII ribbons, the one posted above is a newer made one), and that effect would be impossible to exactly replicate in a hand stiched ribbon such as the one Brig posted. The width of the red on both sides is a little off, but I'm not too surpised since the artisan who made this bar would have made hundereds or even thousands of ribbon sets, and its quite likely that this was the only (or one of the very few) that included this somewhat obscure ribbon.

So yes, the one in Brigs ribbon set doesn't look exactly like the other picture, but I highly doubt anyone can bring up another plausable ribbon that even comes close to looking like that.

Vance

[teufelhunde.ret]

The ribbon in the post above doesn't really look like the one on the custom ribbon bar. The dimensions aren't right.

 

Come on, after all... it is a CUSTOM ribbon bar...

[Brig]

very nice surprise for me then, this oddity. I'm no ribbon expert...Japanese made? the PUC reminds me of Japanese style customs

[Captainofthe7th]

Here is one example of an original MM ribbon bar. You can see how the white and red really do bleed into each other. This is harder to accomplish with a custom sewn rack. I wish a had a photo of the other bar I have...it is in better condition than this.

 

 

Rob

[el taco grande]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to upset the apple cart...the explanation of the color fade/color bleed makes sense...

 

a thousand apologies...