Ulsterman Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 So...this ribbon bar dates from when the Viet-Nam war was winding down(wards). It was worn before the Pentagon desk warriors/politicians/"morale-builders" instituted the training ribbons and merit medals that are now given out so lavishly. I accidentally reversed the image-and then erased it- sorry. So, this guy had an relatively uneventful career-or did he? Who do you think he was? (Some of the documents came with the ribbon bar, so I was quite pleased). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGunner Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) National Defense Service Medal with star means he probably was on active duty 50-54 during Korean War (but no Korea service) and 61-74 for Vietnam War (but no Vietnam Service - although the AFEM could be for VN service prior to 65). So, a career sailor with his only campaign being recognized by the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and his unit being recognized with the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Let's see...I'll guess he was on a ship during the 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis. The first operation that was entitled to the AFEM. Another possibility is that he was on a ship in 1968, during naval operations in defense of the USS Pueblo, which was seized by North Korea. No Vietnam service though...so maybe those early actions aren't plausible. With that many oak leaf clusters on the Navy Good Conduct Medal I don't think it would be later - he would probably have some other individual award. I'd go as late as 1975 and the The Mayaguez incident. Edited November 11, 2011 by IrishGunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Cuba looks like the best bet to me. I got AFEM, Nat'l Defense and (because we were there early) Navy Expeditionary for Cuba. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 wow...you guys are good! You almost nailed it completely. What rank do you guess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I'm guessing CPO or possibly 1st Class. Outside chance of a warrant officer. (I spent 30 years looking at ribbons like these.) Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGunner Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Petty Officer, First Class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 Dead on chaps- PO 1st class, Ed Marr. Enlisted in December, 1949 and retired in 1976. This was his ribbon bar in 1972-73 when he was aboard the USS Thor on ice breaking duty in Alaska (brrrr...). He spent most of his career in boiler rooms. It has a certain reserved dignity to it I think. He died a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGunner Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 It has a certain reserved dignity to it I think. I agree - a nice bar showing honorable service - and some history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Do you know if the AFEM is for Cuba? (Can't resist that last detail.) Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cole Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 USS Thor ARC 4 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the following periods: 27-AUG-1969 15-NOV-1969 16-AUG-1971 09-OCT-1971 The Thor (or those serving in her) didn't recieve the AFEM. Source OPNAVNOTE 1650 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGunner Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 USS Thor ARC 4 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the following periods: 27-AUG-1969 15-NOV-1969 16-AUG-1971 09-OCT-1971 The Thor (or those serving in her) didn't recieve the AFEM. Source OPNAVNOTE 1650 I don't think he meant that the medal was earned on the Thor - only that this was PO1 Marr's ribbon bar when he served on the Thor. He then would have earned the medal prior to reporting aboard the Thor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Yup-that's what I meant. he apparently spent @ 6-7 years out of Seattle and in Alaska. But we was "in" Cuba aboard a destroyer (USS Leary) -in the boiler room probably. He had a basset hound named Beauregard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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