Lets see some US NAVY Good Conduct Medals !!

[Adam R]

This little gem landed in my collection about a week ago. "John McDonald" is a very common name but with a lot of work and a bit of luck at the Archives in DC I may be able to research the recipient.

[Adam R]

Another recent addition to the collection. The long ribbon may be original and is typical of the ribbon on GC medals issued in the early to mid 1890s. The brooch is more typical of a post 1905 medal so it's probably a replacement. Douglass was killed by another sailor while serving as Chief Master at Arms on the USS Tennessee in 1907.

[easterneagle87]

Posted this over on the "Groupings" page, but thought I post them here as well with questions.

 

When did they stop with year bars and go to number bars?

 

I see square ribbon drapes with stars instead of bars to mark awards, when changed?

[easterneagle87]

Posted this over on the "Groupings" page, but thought I post them here as well with questions.

 

When did they stop with year bars and go to number bars?

 

I see square ribbon drapes with stars instead of bars to mark awards, when changed?

and a shot of the group

[Wharfmaster]

Dated Bars ended in mid 1942.

 

 

Wharf

[easterneagle87]

Dated Bars ended in mid 1942.

 

 

Wharf

 

That would makes some sense as the medal is dated 1942

[Reforger]

A couple of goodies. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find out much about the recipients.

 

 

 

Two more:

 

 

[BEAST]

Here is the only USN GCM that I have. Posthumous award to a sailor killed on board the USS Rowan.

 

 

 

[Sweazy21]

I picked this one up in October and just got to his file. I have now looked at 200+ documents now and I’m fairly convinced that his parents named him Z.

 

Z L Butler was born October 4, 1916 in Arkansas. He enlisted on May 14, 1934 and served his first enlistment until 1937. Then on January 29, 1940 he reenlisted and served until 1944 or 45.

During his first enlistment he served aboard the USS Louisville(CA-28) and crossed the equator May 20, 1936. On his second enlistment, He served aboard the USS Marblehead(CL-12), USS Earle(DD-635) and USS Ingraham(DD-694).

 

 

USS Marblehead

1941

December 8, crossed the equator.

1942

February 4, Mr. Butler was wounded in action when the Japanese bombed the USS Marblehead during the Battle of Makassar Strait.

 

 

USS Earle

1943

March 7, declared a deserter after having been absent after leave on February 7, 1943.

March 15, surrendered

 

 

USS Ingraham

1944

October 27, cross the 180th Mouradian

November 10–16 1944, served with credit in support of the third fleet Carrier strikes Leyte and Luson areas, Philippine islands

November 28-December 11, participated in the later phases of Leyte operations

December 12-17, Took part in the assault and capture of Mindoro Island, Philippine islands

1945

January 3-21, served with credits in the shore bombardment, assault and capture Lingayon Gulf, Luson island

February 16-17, participated in the first carrier air strike against mainland of Japan in the Tokyo-Yokohama area

February 17-18, served with credits in two separate night actions resulting in the destruction of three Japanese vessels in waters adjacent to the Japanese empire

February 25-27, served aboard the USS Ingraham during bombardment of enemy installations and fire support of our ground forces on Iwo Jima

March 1, participated in carrier airstrike against enemy installations on Okinawa

March 20 - April 28, participated in the support of landings Okinawa including a carrier air strike on Sakishima on April 27

April 29 - May 4, served with high credit on board the USS Ingraham during picket patrol’s around Okinawa during which time this vessel came under heavy attack of many enemy planes in a air sea battle which ultimately resulted in the destruction of the entire enemy attacking force

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sweazy21]

Carpenters mate second class George Fredrick Henry Eib

George was born in Michigan on December 3, 1896 and passed away in California on June 8, 1953. He served in the United States Navy from 1914 until 1919.

This grouping was assembled in the mid-40s by George Studley for Mr. Eib.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sweazy21]

US navy good conduct belonging to Carl E Soderblom. Still doing research but appears he served 1904-1942. Unfortunately, i do know for sure his good conduct is missing atleast one bar.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Reforger]

Some more:

 

 

 

Two more. Unfortunately no info on Fred.

 

 

 

The last for now:

 

 

 

 

[Reforger]

Here is one I find pretty interesting. This veteran, nickname Jack, passed away in 2018. Here served as a Signalman and saw a lot of action.

From his obituary: Jack dropped out of high school to enlist in the United States Navy one week after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He spent almost 6 years in the Navy, serving in the Pacific Theater throughout World War II. According to his service records, Jack was involved in many of the most serious battles in the Pacific, including landings in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, and Okinawa, as well as engagements in the Coral Sea, Midway Island, and Guadalcanal. He was honorably discharged in June 1947 holding the rank of Signalman 1st Class, and earning numerous significant medals of honor.

 

[Sweazy21]

Todays arrival, unfortunately I currently have no information on who he was. Will be a challenge since I only have initials.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Medalman90]

This one came in about a week ago. Anxiously awaiting the archives to open so I can pull his records. 

[Reforger]

Interesting early medals for sure!

[Reforger]

It's been a while but I came across another nice Navy medal bar with a named GCM. He served as an Aviation Ordnanceman in Torpedo Squadron 88. VT-88 was based on the USS Yorktown at the end of the war and flew missions against the Japanese, including the Japenese mainland.

 

[Reforger]

GCM to a veteran of USS Ommaney Bay.

 

GCM to a veteran of USS Marcus Island.

 

 

[Reforger]

Here are two more very interesting medals!

 

First off is this GCM to a Corpsman from Indiana. He was first wounded in 1952 while serving with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. He was wounded again in 1966 in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star with V device for that action.

 

 

And the next GCM was awarded to an African American service member. You don't see these too often because only a little over 5 percent of the Navy service members at the end of WWII were African American. Joining in early 1942, he served as a Steward's Mate, his only option in the Navy at the time. African Americans were only allowed in other ratings starting mid 1942. He was serving on USS Suwanee when the escort carrier was hit by kamikazes in 1944. They did get his name wrong on the medal (don't know how they could have messed up the name "Roosevelt").

 

 

 

[Reforger]

Let's add one more, shall we?!

 

[JustinH]

Here is my first

[BeansEnHay]

Hey,

I recently picked up this GCM. I found the name interesting, Extra Edwin Rothmiller.  I didn’t think there would be another. I think Extra is possibly an anglicized version of a German surname or forename.  You can see the date of the award, 19 Oct 1925, and I found his original enlistment date, 01 Feb 1918.  A question came to me when I removed the single clasp “West Virginia”.  It is dated 15 Aug 1927.  Since his last enlistment ended Oct ‘25, did he have time to complete another hitch ?  If you extended for a defined period, say 22 months could you earn a clasp ?  I don’t know the exact date he left the Navy, but he was a civilian by 1928.  Also the C.S.C. # is 37958.  His original entry being Feb 1918.  I have another GCM to a Feb 1914 enlisted whose # is 48387.  I’m thinking this is not Rothmiller’s clasp.  What do you think ?

p.s. his rank was Fireman

 

 

 

[BeansEnHay]

I left something out, his original wartime enlistment 01 Feb 1918 ended in Apr 1919.  He got out for a number of months and then re entered the service.

Rob

[Sweazy21]

Hey,
I recently picked up this GCM. I found the name interesting, Extra Edwin Rothmiller.  I didn’t think there would be another. I think Extra is possibly an anglicized version of a German surname or forename.  You can see the date of the award, 19 Oct 1925, and I found his original enlistment date, 01 Feb 1918.  A question came to me when I removed the single clasp “West Virginia”.  It is dated 15 Aug 1927.  Since his last enlistment ended Oct ‘25, did he have time to complete another hitch ?  If you extended for a defined period, say 22 months could you earn a clasp ?  I don’t know the exact date he left the Navy, but he was a civilian by 1928.  Also the C.S.C. # is 37958.  His original entry being Feb 1918.  I have another GCM to a Feb 1914 enlisted whose # is 48387.  I’m thinking this is not Rothmiller’s clasp.  What do you think ?
p.s. his rank was Fireman

 
 
 

Personally I suspect that it’s not his, I do not have that number recorded so I cannot confirm or deny it. Whenever The archives open, sending for his file could help answer the question as it should be noted in his records.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Scarecrow]

A little late to the party and although not the actual medal thought others might like to see this ribbon rack with 5 USN Good Conduct Awards.  This belonged to Edward R. Morris.  Morris enlisted in the Navy in October 1921 and retired in April 1953.  Rising from the rank of ordinary seaman to Lt. Commander at retirement.  In what was most likely one of his USN service defining moments Morris was a one of the survivors of the February 12, 1935 crash of the Airship USS Macon.