army historian

Tim, nice rack! I don't want to get into a pissing match with you, but you are wrong about the Navy Good Conduct Medal. During WW2 it was awarded for 3 years service. I have my uncle's medals and paper work, he went into the Navy in 1943, was awarded a Good Conduct in 1946! Here is a copy the separation form of a Sailor who went into the Navy in 1942, was discharged in 1945 with 3 years, 0 months and 11 days. He was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal. I have other examples. Respectfully Captain George Albert.

Here is a more recent medal bar to an enlisted man who was commissioned (Maverick). This is the Three no overlap type. Captain George Albert.

Tim the Navy and Marine Corp regulations for mounting full sized medals is as follows: No lover lap maxium of 3 medals per row. Overlap maxium of 5 medals per row. A lot of people did not see fit to start a second row with one or two medals, because their old medal bar would have to be broken up and remounted. It cost about $15.00 a medal now. Here is a scan of a Retired Rear Admiral's medals mounted per regulations.

Here are some items from a US Army Brigadier General (California Army National Guard) Assistant Adujant General.

Here is US Vietnam period Helmet.

Here is a US WW1 Flying helmet and goggles.

Here is a WW2 US Navy Commander's Gray uniform visor cap and coat.

I will start with this WW2 US Army Tanker Uniform. Captain George Albert

Miguel, you mentioned that the Alfonso 12 medal may have been only used during the Carlos Wars. If that is so, what kind of medal would my Great Grandfather have received in 1891? As I said I never saw the medals. Thanks, respectfully Captain George Albert

Chris, the term "Buffalo Soldier" was what the Indians called all Black troops. It was because of their dark skin and wooly hair. Also the term was first applied to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, and later the 10th Cavalry and 24th Infantry Regiments. From about the Spanish American War to World War 2 the term was stilled used for Black troops of any unit. Today it has become a tradition. I really hate it when people try to re-write history like the "Buffalo Soldier" website by Wal-Mart. As I understand it a "Buffalo Soldier" is a African American period. Hope this helps. Also that is a great purple heart. I hope you send a SF-180 to the National Personnel records Center, and his records were not destroyed in the 1973 fire. Good Luck. Captain George Albert

Hi! Snoopy, Nice patch. Yes the others are right on - it is a WW2 Army Air Corp patch. Here's another a little older one. Captain Albert

It appears to me that you have enough information to write to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. you can find information on how to do this by goggling SF-180. Standard form 180 is used to get information on past military personnel. Here is what I saw from the posts: John Minaham, Lieutenant Colonel retired. Army Air Corp - Army Air Force, US Air Force. started service before 7 Dec. 1941 (American Defense Medal). Served in the Pacific during WW2, spent 3 years overseas in combat zone. Service #58283. SS# not known. Date of birth and death unknown. Deseased. By 1958 had at least 17 years service, but less than 20 years (Air Force Longeviety Ribbon), means started service somewhere between 1938 and 1941. The Genealogy information should be helpful. Hope this helps - I have submitted SF-180's for reseach, and gotten a lot of information. Respectfully Captain George Albert

My 2 cents: the Officers appear to be wearing pre-1902 Cap insignia (no cloud burst above the eagle). They look regulation. The young Officer is wearing a lot of marksmanship badges (no medals). A better scan would be helpful. Note: none of the Officers are wearing "Medals" so before 1905, and no society medals.

On his horse.

Here is an 1898 photo of Trooper Bailey.

This photograph is of private Charles Z. Bailey. This is a Great group of Spanish American War through World War One medals, photo album, and other photos from the estate of Charles Z. Bailey. Charles Bailey was a famous photographer both for the Army and in civilian life. He took many photos of Army life, The Great White Fleets visit to San Francisco, Balboa Park in San Diego, Yosemite, Catalina Island, and Sequoia National Park. He served in the 1st Texas Cavalry during the Spanish American War and around 1900 moved to California and transferred to A Company 1st California National Guard (Cavalry) as a bugler. A Company (Troop) was stationed in San Francisco from 1895 to 1905 and then Bakersfield from 1905 to 1917. He joined B Company, 7th California Infantry Regiment about 1910 as a bugler. He was in the National Army during WW1 as a Signal Corp Sereant, photographer. Release in 1919 from the the service. He continued his photography business until his death around (1954). The group includes his personal photo album which chronicles his life from age 3 until 1939. A fantastic group of photos showing his early life, Army service as a Trumpeter in the Texas Cavalry, Spanish American War era, early turn of the century Army life, and the WW1 time period. Separate from the album is a great 8X6 matted photo portrait of him wearing a campaign hat and his two Federal shooting awards in WW1. There are other photos in the grouping consisting of several group photos of different units, nurses, medical officers, and assorted army life. These don’t have him in the photos, but are work he evidently did for the Army. Medals and Awards: Spanish American War Service Medal (current replacement - entitled to - He did not apply for) World War 1 Victory Medal – no bar (Verified) Spanish American War Veterans medal with miniture Military Order of the Serpent medal 1938 Los Angeles National Convention of the American Legion medal 1940 American Legion medal with name tag Federal 1902 National Guard Expert Rifleman badge with 1912 bar Federal 1902 Silver Regular Army Marksman “A” badge Federal 1902 National Guard Marksman bar First California Cavalry, CNG Badge with 1901 & 1902 bars (medal planchet has #13) Type 3 California National Guard Shooting badge with Distinguished Marksman 1910, and Expert Rifleman 1911 bars Name tag for Troop I 1st Texas Cavalry NRA Life Member badge M1902 Dress Blue Hat Band Infantry Charles Z. Bailey was born 29 Jul 1873 in Hudson, WI. Mother’s maiden name was Page. He died 30 Jul 1954 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 81. It appears he had some musical training as there is a photo of him in a fife and drum corp. as a child. In 1895 at the age of 22 he had his own business as a photographer in Ellsworth Wisconsin. Bailey traveled 2,000 miles from Hudson, Wis. to San Antonio, Texas to join the First U. S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders). It appears he was not selected, so instead he joined the First Regiment, Texas Volunteer Cavalry (United States Volunteers), as a bugler. Charles Z. Bailey was 44 when he enlisted in the army in 1917.Charles was promoted to Sergeant of Signals. He is also shown in a photograph wearing 3 discharge (service) stripes. 25 Jan 2007 contacted the California Archives, I asked them to check on Charles Z. Bailey - A Company California Cavalry (1st) and B Company, 7th Infantry with dates. They have 4 pages on Bailey all for B Company, 7th Inf. I checked with the National Personnel Records Center, They had very little on Bailey. They verified his WW1 Service and WW1 Victory Medal, But they did not have a rank on him. I will post other photos from this group.

I have a group of medals to this Hungarian ( later Sergeant-Major). I have no idea what he is warning. Any help woud be appreciated.