John R. Angolia

Rob, A really great KM buckle! As you pointed out, a great deal of gold remaining. Your collection is growing by "leaps and bounds." Any other buckle collectors out there that have some interesting pieces to share? off topic: I'm desperately in search of a Police EM buckle with plain field rather than pebbled to add to my collection. Can anyone help me? If so, please pm me. Regards, Jack Angolia

No, you're not the only one. I have two--one virtually identical to yours, but with a long rectangular silver plate on the opposite side. It is engraved on the outer side "Evelyn M. Smiley, A-701963", and on the inside, "Dad and Mother". She was a Staff Sergeant in the WAC's. The wings were those of her brother, who was in the Flying Tigers as a P-40 pilot. As a matter of note, the uncle was a Navy Cross Recipient. The other is a standard heavy guage silver bracelet with a 2" miniature of the pilot wings. The reverse is engraved with the pilot's serial number and "Joe--from Mother--1944". This was worn by a Sfc in the CBI who washed out of pilot training. Any others out there that can add theirs? Jack Angolia

PK, I am very fortunate to have two groupings belonging to Tuskegee Airmen. Flight Officer William Powell Jr., 99th Pursuit Squadron, 477th Composite Wing. Material consists of the following: Class A uniform (pinks and greens) complete with all insignia Flight Suit, flight helmet w/goggles and oxygen mask A-2 Jacket with 99th ins. B-4 bag Parachute w/kit bag wide range of documents, photos, dog tags, extra insignia, etc. Very large assortment of manuals, documents, and paper work Tuskegee Graducation Award signed on back by all members of the graduation class Major Leonard F. Turner, 301st Fighter Squadron, 332 Fighter Group, 15th AAF. Material consists of the following: All his medals, ribbon bars, wings, documents, overseas cap, 1944 Tuskegee Class book Also have uniforms of black service men of other services. Hope this helps. Jack Angolia

Panzerman, The McArthur clan and Gen Withers Burress (Spanish American War and WWI) are missing from the list. This would bring the list up to 23. Jack

Hello Laurence, Very good questions! I'll do the best I can. Noone was ever awarded more than two MoH. Off the top of my head, I think at least six persons were awarded two--Thomas Custer, Frank Baldwin, Daniel Daly, John McCloy, Arthur McArthur and Doublas McArthur. When the actual medals were worn by two-time recipients, both medals would be worn at the same time. As for the designation on the ribbon bar, I can only guess that an oak leaf cluster was affixed to the single ribbon. Hope this helps. Jack

Congratulations on an excellent coverage of the Merchant Marine Medals. These are rarely seen, largely because they are mostly rather recent (30 May 1988) in their issue. I was fortunate to pick up the WWII effects of Merchant Marine/Maritine Service Ensign Charles Bowers, to include his theatre ribbons. During the war only ribbons were issued as no medals had been struck. It wasn't until recently that the medals were produced, and authorized for issue to include WWII. Keep up the good work! Jack Angolia

The top cross is the Marksman badge. The lower one is the Sharpshooter badge. These should not be worn in the configuration seen here. My speculation is that the individual initially qualified as a Marksman with the rifle, and later as Sharpshooter, again with the rifle. Contrary to regulations, he joined the two badges together. As for the markings on the reverse, the "Sterling" is obvious. I presume the other marks relate to an manufacturer's mark. Jack Angolia

US weapons qualification badges were addressed in a War Department Army Regulation 600-35 dated 14 October 1921. The three classifications--Marksman, Sharpshooter and Expert (your example) did not include the aerial gunner bar. However, in a subsequent regulation dated 31 December 1921, the aerial gunner qualification bar was introduced. The fact that your specimen is engraved with the dates indicates subsequent awards, and is in accordance with regulations. I can't speak for rarity, but I have never seen an engraved bar specimen such as yours before. Hope this is of some help. Jack Angolia

While we are talking about a Marine dress blue uniform here, I would like to make an appeal for assistance. I have recently acquired such a uniform that raises some questions. It is complete in every respect--all covers, belts/buckles, etc. Here are my questions: 1. Among the various covers are a white top and a blue top with red piping. 2. There are two belts for the dress blue uniform--the standard white with plain brass buckle, and a blue wool belt with polished brass buckle with ega within a wreath. Under what circumstances would the white cover and white belt, and blue cover with blue belt be worn? What awards would be worn--ribbons vs medals? Would the white gloves be worn with either configuration? Thank you in advance for any assistance. Jack Angolia

Good afternoon gentlemen, I think it time to discuss the background to the question I posed. First, I did not list all the decorations that the individual received, just enough to show a dicotomy. T/Sgt Glen Wells enlisted in the USAAF on 25 August 1941, being assigned as a Radio Operator/Aerial Gunner in the 338th Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 8th USAAF. While on a mombing mission over Lorient, France, hiws B-17 (Boot Hill) was shot down. He spent the next three months evading the German Forces with the help of French Resistance. He made his way to Spain, and returned to duty with the 8th AAF. He was discharged on 28 October 1945. His decorations consisted of the Good Conduct, ETO w/one battle star, American Defense, WWII Victory and Air Crew wings. Note that no Air Medal was awarded. Two months later he re-enlisted in the USMC, being assigned to the 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force. At the outbreak of the Korean War, He volunteered as a radio operator for combat missions flying out of Japan, seeing heavy action over the Chosin Reservoir. For these actions, he received the Air Medal with three gold stars. Some of his other significant awards as a Marine is the Good Conduct with four stars, and Marine Air Crew wings. He was discharged from active duty on 1 February 1972. Gentlemen, the Navy and Marine Corps did not use oak leaf clusters to show subsequent awards, but rather stars. I have documentation from his personal files to substaniate all that is stated above. The whole purpose of this discourse is to demonstrate that what often appears to be a put-together rack can be very legitmate. Tony, you are to be congratulated for your service to our country. I had to break out charts to see what some of your many awards were. I'm duly impressed. Jack Angolia

Thank you for responding. Let's wait for a few more responses before we take a closer look. Regards, Jack

Hello Everyone, I would like to pose a question. What would be your reaction if you observed a green service tunic of a Marine Master Sergeant adorned with the following decorations: Air Medal with three stars, Marine Good Conduct medal with four stars, Army Good Conduct medal, ETO with one star, American Defense Medal, WWII Victory Medal, AAF Air Crew wings, Marine Air Crew wings? Would like very much to have your obser-vations. Regards, Jack

Hello BJOW, If your recipient entered service in August 1944, he easily could have been trained and deployed in time for the Battle of the Bulge. Always nice to have a named decoration. Jack

Hello Chris, I am most fortunate to own Brig. Gen Whisner's WWII summer service uniform with complete ribbon bars. I have a small quantity of photos of him as Colonel and Brig. Gen. You ask about his ribbon bars. Here is how he wore them in the order of top to bottom: Top row: Legion of Merit w/one OL cluster Bronze Star Middle row: WWI Victory WWI Occupation (Germany) American Defense w/one bronze star albeit his service record shows "w/Foreign Service Clasp". Uniform and photos show only star Bottom row: WWII Victory Asiatic-Pacific Campaign w/two bronze stars Chinese breast decoration, Order of Hun Hai worn in ribbon form Hope this is of some help. Jack

Good afternoon Gentlemen (and Ladies if there are any in attendance), I'm new to your forum. I appreciate the opportunity to view your comments and share mutual interests. I have observed over the years the inequities regarding awards. Not at all uncommon for a WWII Vet who put his life on the line for four years to display only four or five ribbons. This progressively increased with successive wars. It would appear that the Air Force was the worse service for proliferation of awards. I jokingly refer to many of these as, "No cavities, perfect attendance, and an accumulation of ten or more smiley faces." In reality, things have to be placed in perspective. Considerably more awards exist today than previously. Back then, service members were in for the "duration" while now we have a professional corps of service men staying much longer. Obviously, those staying in 20, 30, or 40 or more years will be in a position to earn more awards. Senior officers/NCO's, by simple virtue of the positions held, would receive awards that others would not be eligible for. When a service member sports only five awards of which you have a DSC, Silver Star and Purple Heart, as compared to someone with lesser awards but considerably more in number, which tells the real story of valor and dedication to duty? Just an observation. Jack