Show us your Retirement Shadowbox

[jeb137]

I read the forum daily and value the input from all of the collectors and friends that I've made here. I've learned so much.

 

I know a lot of us are retired military and I'd like to see some of those retirement shadowboxes, etc that you guys have out there.

 

I'll start with mine. The endcaps of the spindles have the buttons off my choaker whites. I kept or picked up a "rocker" from each of the commands I was stationed at. They didn't use rockers when I was at my 1st command, but I got one from a friend a few years later. Once I made Chief, I just got one and threw it in my uniform stuff junk box.

 

Hope you guys like mine and please post yours for us to see.

 

Thanks

 

Jon B

Newaygo MI

 

[Teamski]

Very nice!! I love the wheel design!! Here's mine.

 

-Ski

[Brig]

that wheel idea is killer. I've only seen the typical boxes given thus far

[jeb137]

Brig I love my ships wheel shadowbox. But its too frigging big really. It works well in the hall, but if my wife had made the call I think it would be in the garage. :crying:

 

But I gotta say I like the shape of Teamski's box too, cut in the shape of the USAF MSGT Stripes/patch. Very cool. A big anchor wouldn't have given me much room.

 

Jon B

Newaygo MI

[Brig]

I'll post mine in another 14 years

[hawk3370]

I read the forum daily and value the input from all of the collectors and friends that I've made here. I've learned so much.

 

I know a lot of us are retired military and I'd like to see some of those retirement shadowboxes, etc that you guys have out there.

 

I'll start with mine. The endcaps of the spindles have the buttons off my choaker whites. I kept or picked up a "rocker" from each of the commands I was stationed at. They didn't use rockers when I was at my 1st command, but I got one from a friend a few years later. Once I made Chief, I just got one and threw it in my uniform stuff junk box.

 

Hope you guys like mine and please post yours for us to see.

 

Thanks

 

Jon B

Newaygo MI

 

 

 

Jon,

Very nice. The wheel design is really unique. I think Teamski's box is magnificant as well.

I have been trying to come up with some way to display all my patches and insignia but after 25 years and numerous assignments, there is a lot of junk so still working on it. As of now all I have mounted are some awards that I received over the years which are surrounded by the certificates in my den. I call this my VN room.

 

Again, very beautiful display you have mounted. You should be very proud of it.

 

Terry

[Devious6]

Beautiful shadowboxes!! I like the design of both - great ways to reflect amazing careers.

 

I've never tried to put one together - like Hawk I have accumulated lots of items, plaques, pictures, etc. during my career. I have a few of them in my office at work, and have 3 of my favorite military prints hanging in my den. I only have one of my awards on display - on the wall in my den - framed with a picture from the incident that led to the award and the rank insignia from my uniform jacket that was later retrieved from the area.

 

Thanks for sharing your shadowboxes...and thanks for your Service!!

[jeb137]

I know there HAS to be more than just 3 of us with shadowboxes. Come on guys - SHARE YOURS

 

(and thanks for the kind words on mine)

 

Jon B.

Newaygo MI

[jjdevi1]

I never did one, funny, I worry about other people's stuff more than my own! When I retired (1968-1995) I either gave uniforms to folks that could use them, and as for my full sized medals, gave them to my kids to play with. Result? Nothing to display! LOL Funny, but I don't consider my own stuff collectible, there is a buddy of mine that I gave two NVA flags and a TT-33 pistol I sent home from Vietnam. He is a good friend and collects Vietnam stuff. My kids have zero interest in my stuff, so it went to him. BTW, in my feeble mind, Vietnam isn't collectible stuff, just surplus! It isn't old enough to collect! LOL

 

John

[vicjoy1945]

...BTW, in my feeble mind, Vietnam isn't collectible stuff, just surplus! It isn't old enough to collect! LOL

 

John

 

Guys !!

 

Fantastic shadowboxes !!

 

Hawk - Incredible !! I firmly believe that any soldier, past and present, who has been "in harm's way" is a hero in my book. You, sir, exemplify that honor as your awards indicate.

 

John - man, I know you're half kidding because its probably way to close to you, but, just from my perspective, I have a number of Vientam groupings and I consider it an honor to be their custodian. Don't sell yourself short !! :thumbsup:

 

Keep em coming !! You all deserve recognition !!

 

Thanks for showing !!

 

Vic

[Sivart]

Though I am far from retirement, the soldiers in my last unit gave me one. Its nothing amazing (no MOH or anything!), but a bit different from most you see. If it's not out of place on this thread I will post it.

 

Travis

[Stinger Gunner USMC]

Not a retirement box, but I made this for my father-in-law a few years ago. It represents his service with NMCB-10 from 1966-1969. He served at Camp JJ Carroll on his 67-68 tour and at LZ Sally during 68-69.

[bluemesa159]

When I get back to CO, I'll have to take a pic of mine. Until then, I'm enjoying the pics of others...

[jjdevi1]

Vic,

 

Vietnam stuff.......It's junk! LOL Besides, it wasn't a war, it was a "police action" LOL Not selling myself short, but I'm a living example of what happens when you get kicked out of college and there is a draft. I enlisted to avoid the draft once I lost my deferment, at least that way I a semi-choice of what happened to me. After taking the ASVAB what did I do? 11B that's what I did! LOL Funny, never considered myself a hero, never will. Got hit 3 times in a year, so what I consider myself is lucky! Funny, if you ever lead guys in combat, no matter how hard you try, the older you get, in quiet times you find yourself second guessing decisions you made and actions you took. I can only speak for myself, but my definition of a hero is someone who does something so his or her family has it better/easier than they did, does a lousy job they hate for the same reason, point being that to me, being a hero doesn't have to involve a battlefield or going in harms way for that matter. Anyway, that is my definition of a hero.

 

John

 

Guys !!

 

Fantastic shadowboxes !!

 

Hawk - Incredible !! I firmly believe that any soldier, past and present, who has been "in harm's way" is a hero in my book. You, sir, exemplify that honor as your awards indicate.

 

John - man, I know you're half kidding because its probably way to close to you, but, just from my perspective, I have a number of Vientam groupings and I consider it an honor to be their custodian. Don't sell yourself short !! :thumbsup:

 

Keep em coming !! You all deserve recognition !!

 

Thanks for showing !!

 

Vic

[vicjoy1945]

Vic,

 

...my definition of a hero is someone who does something so his or her family has it better/easier than they did, does a lousy job they hate for the same reason, point being that to me, being a hero doesn't have to involve a battlefield or going in harms way for that matter. Anyway, that is my definition of a hero.

 

John

 

 

Hey John !!

 

Ditto...I agree wholeheartedly on that one !!

 

For me...I look to my own Dad. He fought against the invading German Army in 1939, he was deported to Siberia by the Russians, he survived two years in the Soviet gulags, he lost his father, mother, sister, and brother, he fought in WWII at places like Monte Cassino, Ancona, Bologna and then couldn't go home because his country was ran by the same people who deported, tortured and nearly killed him. He lost just about everything he had in this world except his honor and pride. My Dad never went to college but he made sure I had the opportunity. There was always food on the table, clothes on my back, clean water in the sink, coolness in the summer heat and heat in the coldest of winter. He never complained once about anything...ever.

 

I really don't know if I could have ever done what he did to survive or to continue to live...that's pretty damn close to being a hero in my book !!

 

Vic

 

p.s. Sorry for running "off track" a bit....let see some more shadowboxes !!

[Dave]

When we lived in base housing, we had a neighbor who made shadow boxes...he did some spectactular ones, including a super wooden diver's helmet for a retiring master diver!

 

I haven't yet retired, so I have nothing to show, unfortunately.

 

When my father in law retired, all of his insignia got made into a coffee table (about 4" thick of epoxy!) If I can track down where it went, I'll snap a pic of it and post it up here.

 

Dave

[jjdevi1]

All,

 

My eldest (who is a T/Sgt in the 12th Special Ops Air Wing at Cannon AFB) want's to do a shadow box for me now. Most of my original medals are gone (thanks to him and the younger one) The only one's that he found were my SS and PH. He want's to use older, medals since they are better made. He want's to get the theater made Vietnam ones. Since I don't collect Vietnam at all, (it was what, last week or so LOL) I told him that I'd ask here to see how hard the in country made medals were to find and a good source for them. From what I can remember, I had a campaign one the 60- one and the Cross of Gallantary w/palm that were made in country. The rest of the stuff he won't have a problem with. Any thoughts as to cost or where I can get them. Going to need two sets, he's going to do two boxes, sending both to me, and when I croak each kid will get one. My wife thinks it is a nice gesture, me? Well, I'm glad he thinks that much of me, (in spite of me being both dad and mean older brother LOL) and I will help him out to find the in country made trio. I will put the box up when he is done with it.

 

Thanks,

 

John

 

Vic, I'd of loved to sit down with your dad and had a beer. Yep, that fits the hero thing as far as I'm concerned, and more importantly fits the definition of a good father, family man, and a just a good guy. Have you joined the Polish War Veteran's? I got drug into it by my wife's uncle, and am now the "duty driver" for the geezers! LOL I'm the only one who can still really drive a-ok, they may be the greatest generation, but now, they ain't the greatest drivers! LOL Had a few flashbacks riding with them, and it wasn't combat it was my life! LOL

[Wolfhounds]

John,

 

Those two theater-made medals you are looking for should not be that hard to find. Both the in-country made Vietnam Campaign and Cross of Gallentry with palm that you need are out there. In fact those two medal are probably the easiest of the theater-made medals to find. At one time, I had a couple of extra's, which I would have gladly given you, but I just looked and I must have sold them at some point.

 

When you do find these two medals, you want to make sure they both have the two-prong French style pin on the back of them. That is one way you can tell they are original, and well as the course ribbon. Also, these theater-made medals usually have a longer ribbon drape to them vs the U.S. ones which usually have a shorter ribbon drape to them. I don't know what unit you were in, but you may qualify for a Vietnam Civic Actions Medal as well. Granted, everyone who served in-country was entitled the the Civic Actions Unit Citation, but depending on the unit and what your job was you may qualify for the medals as well. These are generally a little harder to find, especially in decent shape, but they are out there as well. You may want to take things a bit farther as well, and try to find a specific "date bar" for your Vietnam Campaign Medal. The standard bar is the 60' bar, but if you really look, you may be able to find one with the correct year in which you served your tour of duty such as 66-67, 67-68, 68-69 ect.. There are two sizes for these bars a smaller size for the ribbon bar and a larger one for the medal itself.

 

You could even go so far as to find a theater-made National Defense Medal as well as this is seen from time to time. I wish I had not sold those extra's I had as I would have gladly given them to you, as I can appreciate what your son is wanting to do for you. Try posting in the "Wanted" section and see if someone can help. There are a couple of dealers who specialize in Vietnam militaria such as

 

http://www.brooksmilitaria.com/

 

http://www.indochinamilitaria.com/

 

Also try ebay, it may take some time and patience, but they will probably have the best prices.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of an original box that these medals were issued in. These boxes are way harder to find than the medal itself.

 

I hope this helps give you a few ideas, Sean

[Wolfhounds]

John,

 

Those two theater-made medals you are looking for should not be that hard to find. Both the in-country made Vietnam Campaign and Cross of Gallentry with palm that you need are out there. In fact those two medal are probably the easiest of the theater-made medals to find. At one time, I had a couple of extra's, which I would have gladly given you, but I just looked and I must have sold them at some point.

 

When you do find these two medals, you want to make sure they both have the two-prong French style pin on the back of them. That is one way you can tell they are original, and well as the course ribbon. Also, these theater-made medals usually have a longer ribbon drape to them vs the U.S. ones which usually have a shorter ribbon drape to them. I don't know what unit you were in, but you may qualify for a Vietnam Civic Actions Medal as well. Granted, everyone who served in-country was entitled the the Civic Actions Unit Citation, but depending on the unit and what your job was you may qualify for the medals as well. These are generally a little harder to find, especially in decent shape, but they are out there as well. You may want to take things a bit farther as well, and try to find a specific "date bar" for your Vietnam Campaign Medal. The standard bar is the 60' bar, but if you really look, you may be able to find one with the correct year in which you served your tour of duty such as 66-67, 67-68, 68-69 ect.. There are two sizes for these bars a smaller size for the ribbon bar and a larger one for the medal itself.

 

You could even go so far as to find a theater-made National Defense Medal as well as this is seen from time to time. I wish I had not sold those extra's I had as I would have gladly given them to you, as I can appreciate what your son is wanting to do for you. Try posting in the "Wanted" section and see if someone can help. There are a couple of dealers who specialize in Vietnam militaria such as

 

http://www.brooksmilitaria.com/

 

http://www.indochinamilitaria.com/

 

Also try ebay, it may take some time and patience, but they will probably have the best prices.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of an original box that these medals were issued in. These boxes are way harder to find than the medal itself.

 

I hope this helps give you a few ideas, Sean

[jjdevi1]

Sean,

 

From what I can remember, mine had clutchbacks on them when they were presented to me. Darn kids lost just about everything, then again, they had fun with it! And, I wore class A's or B's once in a blue moon anyway.

 

John

[rrobertscv]

My cousin retired after 20 years in the Air Force and was given a real nice shadow box at his party. He stopped for gas on the way home and someone stole it from his truck. I have never seen a man so hurt as he was. He got replacements, but they aren't is originals.

[jjdevi1]

Someone who would do that, well, there aren't words to describe it. Better to let the tire iron do the talking in a case like that.

[jeb137]

My cousin retired after 20 years in the Air Force and was given a real nice shadow box at his party. He stopped for gas on the way home and someone stole it from his truck. I have never seen a man so hurt as he was. He got replacements, but they aren't is originals.

 

 

That just plain suxs. Ouch....

 

Jon B

Newaygo MI

[12A54]

[Sivart]

Nice!