Hello everyone,

 

Last night I celebrated a two year anniversary of dating with my girlfriend (in this day and age that's a long time!). We exchanged small gifts and she really surprised me with this one. For whatever reason I ended up showing it to her on eBay, it was a BIN offer, and shortly after showing it to her I noticed it had ended, to my disappointment. She's not too enthusiastic about the hobby 99% of the time, so I was impressed with this gift.

 

Without anymore rambling, here it is, a nice Korean War set of ribbons with a Fleet Marine Force device. Can anyone tell me what kind of occupations the wearer of these might of had? I know the device signifies Navy personnel attached to a Marine unit, like a corpsman, but are there any other jobs that this could be? Radioman? Thanks for the help, let me know what you think.

 

Sorry it's a little bright..

 

Rob

I believe Seabees were authorized the device as well.

 

-Ski

Does anyone know of Navy personnel other than corpsman wearing a FMF EGA on their campaign ribbons?

 

The reason I ask is I'm doing some research on WWII UDT. From what I understand any Navy member accompaning and under control of the Marines on a combat mission are eligble to wear the small EGA on their ribbons.

 

Would some UDT teams be eligble?

 

Below is something I found while searching the internet:

 

UDT training was at Waimānalo, Hawai'i on Oahu under the aegis of V (Fifth) Amphibious Force. Among both instructors and trainees, there were graduates of the Fort Pierce schools (Scouts and Raiders, and NCDU men), Marines, and Army soldiers. Under the direction of Marine Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, they hastily trained for the attack on Kwajalein on 31 January 1944.[6]

 

The training made use of inflatable boats and included surprisingly little swimming. The men were expected to paddle in, and work in shallow water, leaving the deep-water demolitions to the Army. Marine Reconnaissance units would conduct the hydrography from shallow water to inland while the accompanying UDT would conduct the demolition and hydrography from near-deep water to the shallows.

I can't answer if your UDT guys got the EGA for their ribbon (I doubt it though), but I can say that a Navy service member has to be actually attached to a Marine unit...e.g. physically assigned by orders to a Fleet Marine Force billet with the Marine Corps. The only billets that I am aware of that are eligible are for medical and religious personnel.

 

Dave

In the present day, the seabees (and me) do when we deploy with the Marines so I would presume that goes for WW2 and Korea also.

I can't answer if your UDT guys got the EGA for their ribbon (I doubt it though), but I can say that a Navy service member has to be actually attached to a Marine unit...e.g. physically assigned by orders to a Fleet Marine Force billet with the Marine Corps. The only billets that I am aware of that are eligible are for medical and religious personnel.

Dave

 

:thumbsup: agree...

In the present day, the seabees (and me) do when we deploy with the Marines so I would presume that goes for WW2 and Korea also.

 

Good call...completely dropped that one from my mind-scope! :emba0005:

 

Dave

From Wikipedia:

 

The FMF Combat Operations Insignia is a miniature bronze Marine Corps Emblem that may be awarded to a U.S. Navy Service Member assigned to Marine Corps units that participate in combat during the assignment. It is a Department of the Navy device that may be authorized by the Marine Corps for wear by Navy personnel attached to and operating with units of the Marine Corps operating forces, or by Navy personnel attached to Navy units operating with units of the Marine Corps operating forces and under Marine Corps operational control during combat operations.

 

The FMF Combat Operations Insignia is a restrictive device. Merely being an attachment to operations with a Marine Corps unit is not sufficient to establish eligibility. The unit, or individual assigned to a unit, must have engaged in active combat during service with the unit. No more than one insignia may be worn on an authorized campaign, expeditionary, and service medal. The FMF combat operations insignia may be authorized by the Marine Corps unit commander for wear on the following campaign and expeditionary medals:

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Vietnam Service Medal (a campaign medal)

Southwest Asia Service Medal

Kosovo Campaign Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

 

Only one Marine Corps insignia is centered on the suspension ribbon of the appropriate medal and only one Marine Corps insignia is centered on the appropriate service ribbon bar. Any other authorized attachments such as the 3/16 inch service stars or campaign stars, are arranged on either side of the two devices, with the first on the wearer's right, the second on the wearer's left, and so on.

If you want to read a long on-and-off-track debate about it and who is eligible, here's a link for your viewing pleasure...

 

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-27.html

Here are examples in use. The group is to Elzie T FOWLER, Jr. HMC US Navy Korea.

Close up

Medal ribbon

GCM naming

His father Elzie Tro FOWLER, Sr was a PHM1 in WW2. They are buried together in Oaklawn Cemetery Brinkley, AR

Piked up this ribbon rack a few months ago and it is by far my favorite one... no name unfortunately, but it has the EGA device and two service stars on the Pacific campaign medal, an arrow head device and a service star on the Philippine liberation medal, and the Bronze Star with combat "V"

 

Man, I just wish I had the guys name!

 

Mostly I just wanted to share, but I also want to double check that this guy was in fact a Corpsman. Thanks!

The bronze arrow head device is not an authorized device for any medal of the Naval services. It is also not worn on the Phillippine Liberation ribbon by any of the armed forces. The ribbons are also not in the proper order. I highly doubt this ribbon bar belonged to a Navy Corpman.

 

Semper Fi,

Bruce Linz

The bronze arrow head device is not an authorized device for any medal of the Naval services. It is also not worn on the Phillippine Liberation ribbon by any of the armed forces. The ribbons are also not in the proper order. I highly doubt this ribbon bar belonged to a Navy Corpman.

 

Semper Fi,

Bruce Linz

Thanks bruce...

 

So it's most likely that the bar is fake?

I do not think the ribbon bar is fake. It looks like all the parts are real. I think your ribbon bar was put together by someone who knows very little about U. S. Military ribbons. It could have been done a long time ago or within the last few years, who knows. Antique dealers, mall space owners, and flea marketeers have all been known to assemble some pretty interesting combinations of ribbons.

Thanks bruce...

 

So it's most likely that the bar is fake?

real parts.. put together most likely.

 

-Brian

The Philippine Ribbon and Bronze Star ribbon look to be WW2 era, the Asiatic Pacific looks very new, note the colors on it are very crisp and clean..

 

Leigh

Could have belonged to a service member who didn't know the regulations well...but with the "V" on the BSM, that dates far later than the rest of the bar, so my thought is that it was assembled from parts at some point in its life. Maybe by the vet. Maybe by the family...no one will ever know.