Posted 13 years ago
tikiray
(91 items)
This is my grandfathers USMC plaque with his sword. The other is the collage I made my father, it's bigger than the one I posted the other day that I made for myself. The watch in the frame here is the one that goes with the blue box I had posted with the watch I have from my grandfather. My aunt has all of his medals.
Great memorial your collage would be referred to as a shadow box to militaria collectors. You should cover the white cotton with red felt. I see he was in The Pacific WW II tail end my guess China, Korea and Viet Nam came out a colonel had quite a life.
Yes, shadow box! I couldn't think of that, so I just called it a collage. lol.
I know for sure he was in WWII and the Korean war, I don't think he went to Nam. Thanks again James!
He may not have gone to Nam but he was in the Marines when it was going on. Because the ribbons say so.
Your grandfather's medals on the plaque are from the top left to right.
Bronze Star (two awards) instead of issuing another medal they add a star
Navy Presidential unit citation (three awards)
Navy Unit citation
Good Conduct
American Campaign (ww2)
Asiatic Pacific campaign (ww2) (four awards)
Victory Medal (ww2)
China Service medal (1945-1957)
National Defense (2 awards)
Korean Service Medal (5 awards)
United Nations Korean Service
Korean Presidential unit citation
Tom, you are an amazing wealth of information! Thank you so much. It is awesome to know exactly what all the medals mean! Are these called ribbons? Or medals? I always pictured medals has bigger with something hanging from them. Or do I have those mixed up?
My grandfather, wife and kids lived in Guam. I posted a pic of a card with the ship on it that my grandmother went over to Guam in. I can't say exactly what the date was, but it as in the late 40's or early 50's, my dad was born in '47 and the pictures of him in Guam look as if he is around 2-4 yrs old. What was going on at that time for him to be stationed in Guam?
Tikiray, There are two parts of a medal that were issued. The full cloth 1 1/4" ribbon with a campaign medal hanging from it and just a ribbon to be worn on the military dress uniform. There were also just ribbons with no medal. example is your grandfather Navy Presidential unit citation and Korean presidential unit citation are ribbons only. I will put a couple medal and ribbons on my show and tell site.
Ohhh ok! I get it, now! Please do post some, I'd like to see them!!
I just did post two medal and ribbons
Why did he have so many copies of the same ribbons? Like the Bronze Star, for example.... there is one in the shadow box and also one on his plaque. Did he have duplicates to keep on different uniforms?
I thought that Korean service medal was Nam I've got an old big HUGE box for a monitor I think it is about time to trade it in. I'm glad you found out what they were.
LOL James..... I have an old laptop in the guest room.... well, when I say old I mean 1999, and every now and then I turn it on just to mess with it and the screen is so huge compared to my laptop now. lol Get you a new monitor!
Mine is all grainy and the colors aren't very good mine is all of that old too
Tikiray, Yes for different uniforms, It's no fun to keep moving medals from one uniform to another. I will be posting my dad's medals that are in a shadow box.
Great! Thanks so much again for all the information. It was been very helpful!
Thanks for the info, AR, and thank you for your service in the military.... it really does mean a lot.
I'll have to have my dad sign to get my grandfathers records. I would love to know where, when and why he went where he did while in the Marines. The medals that went with his ribbons are at my aunts house.
Yeah, I'll ask her if she'll do that.... if she ever speaks to me again. lol
Hi, I'm reading this more than a year since your last comment on it. Was wondering if you ever got your grandfathers award records? It "may" be possible to obtain copies of the citations ( Document that outlines WHY he receive a particular award/medal. ) That is the best of all and if you haven't already made peace with your aunt who holds the medals it might motivate her if you suggest that YOU are trying to research the history of his medals and you will give her the results, " wouldn't it be nice to know how he got his medals Aauntie Bea???? "
Your grandfather was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor (once)-- the "V" device signifies it was an award for valor.
The Bronze star can be awarded for Valor or Meritorious Service. Many more are awarded for service than for valor.
Scott