If a unit received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation more than once, are soldiers authorized to wear an Oak Leaf Cluster on the ribbon? I have seen one General's rack (a Marine I think?) who has an OLC on the KPUC. Other than that, I have NEVER seen it, but I don't see why it isn't possible. Any comments?

 

Rob

Even if a unit earned more than one ROK PUC, no devices were authorized for it. I, too, have seen several Marine officers (Chesty Puller included) wearing a star on their's, but so far as I know, this was unauthorized.

Funny you should mention that. When my unit got back from Iraq and started doing NCO promotion boards (which require the soldiers to wear their class A uniform), our Battalion CSM put out that he wanted everyone to show up wearing ALL of the units awards (inculding several VN awards that are not authorized for temporary wear). Since the Battalion had recieved multiple Korean PUCs he required people to show up wearing OLCs on that ribbon. I tried pointing out how wrong that was, but Command Sergeants Major generally don't react well when a lowly Platoon Leader tries to point out that his guidance is in conflict with the regulation.

Vance

Funny you should mention that. When my unit got back from Iraq and started doing NCO promotion boards (which require the soldiers to wear their class A uniform), our Battalion CSM put out that he wanted everyone to show up wearing ALL of the units awards (inculding several VN awards that are not authorized for temporary wear). Since the Battalion had recieved multiple Korean PUCs he required people to show up wearing OLCs on that ribbon. I tried pointing out how wrong that was, but Command Sergeants Major generally don't react well when a lowly Platoon Leader tries to point out that his guidance is in conflict with the regulation.

Vance

I know that foreign unit awards are only authorized for permanent wear by soldiers actually assigned to the unit when the award was earned. However, I read something online the other day, I believe on the Institute of Heraldry website, that I had never heard before. Apparently the Korean PUC is authorized for temporary wear by someone serving in Korea while assigned to a unit that received the award. Makes sense as a way of avoiding offending the Korean government on their own soil.

 

I wonder if this also applies to units serving in the Philippines. I think there are Special Forces units there that carry the lineage of the old 6th Ranger Battalion from World War II.

I know that foreign unit awards are only authorized for permanent wear by soldiers actually assigned to the unit when the award was earned. However, I read something online the other day, I believe on the Institute of Heraldry website, that I had never heard before. Apparently the Korean PUC is authorized for temporary wear by someone serving in Korea while assigned to a unit that received the award. Makes sense as a way of avoiding offending the Korean government on their own soil.

 

I wonder if this also applies to units serving in the Philippines. I think there are Special Forces units there that carry the lineage of the old 6th Ranger Battalion from World War II.

To answer my own musings, I did some quick research and found that the Army went back in 1986 and withdrew the WWII Ranger battalion lineages from the Special Forces and gave them back to the 75th Ranger Regiment and current Ranger battalions. However, the 1st Special Forces Group received the Philippine PUC for the period July-August, 1972, so I guess my original question still remains.

Here is a link to the Institute Of Heraldry's page on the Korean PUC that addresses the issue of oak leaf clusters:

 

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/R...F%20KOREA1.html

 

It specifically states "2. Criteria: The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is awarded by the Korean government. Not more than one Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation will be worn by any individual and no oak leaf cluster or other appurtenance is authorized.

 

3. Background: a. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation emblem is authorized for permanent wear by personnel assigned to the organization during the period cited. Other personnel may wear this decoration while serving with an organization, stationed in the Republic of Korea, to indicate the unit has been awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation."

 

Interestingly, the link on the same website for the RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation makes the following reference: "Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross. The Army initially authorized the wear of a fourragere by letter AGPB-AC, Subject: Wear of Vietnamese Unit Awards by U.S. Army Personnel, dated 11 February 1969, for units which had been awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm on two or more occasions. Department of the Army message 111030Z April 1974, established the policy that only one emblem was authorized, thus precluding the wear of the Vietnamese fourrageres which represented multiple awards."

 

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/V...Y%20CROSS1.html