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    dmiller8

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    Everything posted by dmiller8

    1. I am guessing that this might be part of a fraternal society uniform. The elaborate decorations far exceed those of a military uniform cap, so it might more easily be associated with something like Knights of Columbus. The open crown or coronet could make it a Catholic order, so it wouldn't be a patriotic organization like the G.A.R. I'm finding it difficult to track down what fraternal order this represents, perhaps because the society didn't survive into the 20th century.
    2. According to my reference links, the patch on the left is the official specialty mark that was allowed between 1944 and 1947. The one on the right was the unofficial specialty mark of crewmen of a minesweeper between 1942 and 1944. It was prohibited by the Chief of Naval Operations. Thanks for the illustrations.
    3. Navy specialty marks are used as trade and specialty badges on seamen's uniforms. The minecraft badge found at https://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/navy.html (It won't copy and paste) was an official substitute for an earlier specialty mark for sailors who were minesweepers. This is seen at https://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/other2/otherinsnminesweeper.html. The Navy instituted the minecraft badge in 1944 and abolished it in 1947.
    4. You have more biographical information on William O Stewart than I have. Depending on when he passed, his records from the Merchant Marine may be available from the National Archives or from the US Merchant Marine http://www.usmm.org/contact.html
    5. Our learned friend, Numis, is devoted to the provenance of the awards that he collects. And apparently, I misread how he described his acquisition of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar. When he capitalized the Silver Star, I believed he was referring to the medal, not the appurtenance.
    6. The Merchant Marine combat bar was a ribbon awarded to Merchant Mariners whose ship was damaged or sunk by enemy action. A silver star on the ribbon represents a second award. Since William O Stewart was decorated for valor in the course of his service, we have no way of determining the conditions that led to his award of the Silver Star. This link https://homeofheroes.com/silver-star/ lists Silver Star awards by time period and branch of service. This list is incomplete, especially for Naval awards. Plus, there is no separate listing for Merchant Marine citations. Unlike the London Gazette that published awards and citations in Great Britain, there was no similar publication in the United States. If William O Steward had a hometown newspaper interested in his bravery, the details of this deed might have been published and archived for posterity.
    7. Meehan was one of millions of GIs who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. Normally, there is no citation for this award. The Purple Heart is awarded under the authority of the commander of the treatment facility that tended to his wounds. The Bronze Star was automatically bestowed upon award of the Combat Infantryman's Badge or Combat Medical Badge. The CIB or CMB was awarded to infantrymen and medics for 30 days service in a combat theater. Unless the Bronze Star was awarded with a "V" device, there won't be a citation for this medal either.
    8. Did you get a DD 214 among his personal effects? That should have listed his awards, including an Army and Navy Good Conduct Medal. During WW2, the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for one year's service for the first award, and every three years afterward. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was awarded for 4 years year's service during WW2. The serviceman may have served in the Army briefly and transferred to the Navy. The Medal for Merit is awarded by the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs to any honorably discharged veteran who holds state citizenship at the time of service, who was awarded federal service medals from 1939 to the present day. https://dmna.ny.gov/forms/dmna_reg_672-1.pdf Your desire for verification is dependant upon providing the Department of Military and Naval Affairs with the name of the recipient, his dates of service, and a list of his service medals justifying the award. Be aware that his records may not be in the public domain and privacy laws about his service may still be in effect. Service records are not releasable to the public within 60 years of discharge.
    9. Post-nominal letters for military medals are used on headstones:
    10. Gold general's stars are usually worn by police chiefs. Military generals wear silver-color stars. The promotion ceremony is performed when the promotion orders are read out to the individual, then the insignia is pinned to the uniform. The format is usually: "The President of the United States, having reposed confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of (named individual), he/she is hereby promoted to the grade of (rank title). This officer will carefully and diligently discharge the duties of a (rank title), by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. Given under my hand in the city of Washington, on (date) and of the independence of the United States (200+ years). Signed by the President of the United States." That is roughly the format that I remember.
    11. According to the American War Library, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, issued General Order 8, implementing a decree of the South Vietnamese Government. This decree gave the Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Palm to all foreign troops serving in-country. The US order bestowed both the Unit Citation and the individual decoration (http://www.amervets.com/replacement/vcog.htm#isr). There is a myth that Americans are only entitled to the unit citation with the gilt frame (http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/thecross.htm). American service personnel who served in Vietnam who received the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal were also made recipients of the Cross of Gallantry. In addition, Navy and Marine personnel who served in-country and in the territorial waters were awarded the Civil Actions Medal and Unit Citation (First Class) (http://www.amervets.com/replacement/vcar.htm#isr).
    12. I'll try to answer as best as I can. USS Somers was a US naval vessel that foundered off the coast of Vera Cruz, Mexico during the Mexican American war (https://wiki2.org/en/USS_Somers_(1842) Thirty-six sailors were lost, but survivors were picked up by several foreign vessels, including HMS Endymion (https://wiki2.org/en/HMS_Endymion_(1797) The captain of the Endymion at the time was George Lambert https://wiki2.org/en/George_Lambert_(Royal_Navy_officer) He would have received the gold Congressional Somers Medal for his actions that night (https://history.house.gov/Institution/Gold-Medal/Gold-Medal-Recipients/). Silver ones were intended for junior officers and seamen. The Numismatist journal of April 2001 stated that the medals weren't finished until 1851, and that the original pressings were mis-struck with the wrong legend (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/527804?page=36). Ten gold and 100 silver medals were finally struck and given out. Silver and bronze copies were produced for public sale and show up in auctions occasionally (https://www.spink.com/lot/340000453). The gold medals should be recorded in the Congressional Record, but the entry is vague, stating that these medals were presented to rescuers of the USS Somers survivors (https://history.house.gov/Institution/Gold-Medal/Gold-Medal-Recipients/). I don't believe a by-name list of recipients of these medals exists.
    13. Just a guess on my part, but it appears to be a commemorative medal for the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, U.S. Volunteers who served during the Spanish American War. Even today, some states will double up on medals awarded by the federal government, especially when a service member transfers to the National Guard or State Guard. Old photos of veterans often show them wearing a mix of federal, state and locally procured medals.
    14. I had heard a story that General Patton had learned of an American officer affecting the use of post-nominal letters signifying his combat medals and told him to stop that. Probably in a not very polite way of handling the matter. However, award abbreviations appear on DD 214 (discharge papers), so that is as close to post-nominal usage as can be expected.
    15. You may find this useful https://www.medalsofamerica.com/military-uniform-regulations
    16. Mounting and wearing US medals depends on the uniform regulations of the particular branch of service. The Army and Air Force require medals to be mounted in multiple rows as needed, without any overlap. They must be mounted in the correct order of precedence and the bottom edges of the awards must be on an even line. The Navy and Marine Corps are permitted to overlap awards on the uniform. The Marines are particular in that appurtenances such as award or campaign stars must be mounted vertically in the center of the ribbon, to allow for proper display while overlapping medal ribbons.
    17. If I recall correctly, Colin Powell, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and H. Norman Schwarzkopf, as the Theater Commander in the first Gulf War, were made honorary Knight Commanders of the Order of the Bath. President Reagan received an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. It's usually the senior ranking officers conducting liaison duties with foreign forces that are recognized with foreign awards. Instances of Americans serving with foreign forces such as the RAF Eagle Squadron during the Battle of Britain may have earned the appropriate British campaign stars along with the usual decorations for valor.
    18. These are the three grades of Explosive Ordnance Disposal qualification badges that are awarded to EOD technicians in the armed services. According to its Wikipedia article (https://wiki2.org/en/Explosive_Ordnance_Disposal_Badge), the pattern is identical to all the services. The basic grade is shows a WW2-era bomb, the senior grade has a 5-pointed star in the center of the bomb, and the master grade is the senior badge plus a star in a wreath surmounting the badge. The badges have a subdued finish intended for wear on field uniforms.
    19. The coat is a US Air Force summer-weight material known as tropical worsted. The coat wold have been worn with matching trousers and has the dull aluminum buttons, pocket flaps and notched lapels common to the Air Force. The officer must have had a career that had little or no enemy contact, except for four specific battles during the Korean War of 1950-53. Even then, there are no ribbons for the Distinguished Flying Cross or Air Medal, that would have indicated a successful fighter or bomber pilot. The Master Pilot's Wings would have been gained by flying the requisite number of hours. The four leading awards are for distinguished service in the Army Air Corps, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal. The major general would have discarded this coat upon promotion or gaining any future awards, such as for service in Vietnam. Therefore, he may have retired in this rank. Usually, the tailor would have embroidered his name in the lining. If this was done, a google search would probably divulge his biography and service record, especially in a graves registry.
    20. I'm glad that "chair-borne ranger" medal is being scrapped. If a particularly meritorious mission requires recognition, why not use the normal award system? Is using the Bronze Star for exceptionally heroic cyber-war operations (or the Commendation Medal for achievements of a lesser magnitude) that abhorrent? The attachment can be a metal miniature drone aircraft (think of the cargo plane on the Occupation Medal for the Berlin Airlift) for the drone pilots. The cyber-warriors, located far from scenes of violence, can get the MSM, Commendation medals or Achievement medals as appropriate.
    21. While this soldier was airborne, he must not have been Infantry. Even though the ETO service medal has three battle stars, there is no corresponding CIB and Bronze Star Medal. IIRC, wasn't there an initiative to retroactively award the Combat Action Badge to WW2 vets who were ineligible for the CIB? Since these men are dying out, it shouldn't be the nightmare it might have been ten years earlier, and many old veterans' awards are catching up with them.
    22. I'm surprised "Gunga Din" didn't make the cut before I got here. I have a history with this poem. As a youngster in Catholic school, I think when I was about 10 or so, I was directed to read it out loud in class, and I had just seen the movie that Sunday. So I read it in what I thought was an authentic British Soldier's accent. You see it's written in dialect... YOU may talk o' gin an' beer When you're quartered safe out 'ere, An' you're sent to penny-fights an' Aldershot it; But if it comes to slaughter You will do your work on water, An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it. Now in Injia's sunny clime, Where I used to spend my time A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen, Of all them black-faced crew The finest man I knew Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din. It was "Din! Din! Din! You limping lump o' brick-dust, Gunga Din! Hi! slippy hitherao! Water, get it! Panee lao! You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga Din!" The uniform 'e wore Was nothin' much before, An' rather less than 'arf o' that be'ind, For a twisty piece o' rag An' a goatskin water-bag Was all the field-equipment 'e could find. When the sweatin' troop-train lay In a sidin' through the day, Where the 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl, We shouted "Harry By!" Till our throats were bricky-dry, Then we wopped 'im 'cause 'e couldn't serve us all. It was "Din! Din! Din! You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been? You put some juldee in it, Or I'll marrow you this minute, If you don't fill up my helmet, Gunga Din!" 'E would dot an' carry one Till the longest day was done, An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear. If we charged or broke or cut, You could bet your bloomin' nut, 'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear. With 'is mussick on 'is back, 'E would skip with our attack, An' watch us till the bugles made "Retire." An' for all 'is dirty 'ide, 'E was white, clear white, inside When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire! It was "Din! Din! Din!" With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green. When the cartridges ran out, You could 'ear the front-files shout: "Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!" I sha'n't forgit the night When I dropped be'ind the fight With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a' been. I was chokin' mad with thirst, An' the man that spied me first Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Gunga Din. 'E lifted up my 'ead, An' 'e plugged me where I bled, An' 'e guv me 'arf-a-pint o' water—green; It was crawlin' an' it stunk, But of all the drinks I've drunk, I'm gratefullest to one from Gunga Din. It was "Din! Din! Din! 'Ere's a beggar with a bullet through 'is spleen; 'E's chawin' up the ground an' 'e's kickin' all around: For Gawd's sake, git the water, Gunga Din!" 'E carried me away To where a dooli lay, An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean. 'E put me safe inside, An' just before 'e died: "I 'ope you liked your drink," sez Gunga Din. So I'll meet 'im later on In the place where 'e is gone— Where it's always double drill and no canteen; 'E'll be squattin' on the coals Givin' drink to pore damned souls, An' I'll get a swig in Hell from Gunga Din! Din! Din! Din! You Lazarushian-leather Gunga Din! Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you, By the livin' Gawd that made you, You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din! I was referred to a therapist to correct my speech after that.
    23. Customarily, foreign awards earned by US Soldiers that are available in a subdued version for wear on the old BDU would wear them on the right side, as long as they had a corresponding US award on the left. It looks like it might be the Ordnance Qualification badge of the South Vietnamese Army, their version of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. See :http://www.indochinamilitaria.com/vinsignia.htm
    24. The South Carolina Medal of Valor may be in emulation of the Elizabeth Cross http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cross which is also awarded to families who have lost a loved one in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. As a table medal, it is not worn, but it is accompanied by a miniature pin which is a visible sign that the Next-of-Kin received the award. Member Jean-Paul's video link showed the medal in a color illustration, which might indicate that the award may be enameled in those colors and as a table medal, it won't have a ribbon. What may have been forgotten is that US households with a service member on active duty may display a Service Flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_flag with a blue star for the living and gold stars for the deceased. And since 2004, a Service Flag for those wounded in action http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silver_Star_Families_of_America is authorized for display by eligible households.
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