Doc

Monkey God--- good question. The guiding regulation is AR 600-8-22, and the latest edition I have is 2006. It specifically notes that "e. Second and subsequent awards of the CMB are indicated by superimposing 1 and 2 stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath. To date, a separate award of the CMB has been authorized for qualified Soldiers in the following four conflicts: (1) World War II. (2) Korean War. (3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; Southwest Asia Conflict; and Somalia, regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995. (4) War on Terrorism (Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM) and (Iraq, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM). f. Subsequent awards of the CMB is not authorized for the same qualifying period, as outlined above." Looks to me like it would be VERRRY hard for a young troop to have three awards. That would require Korean War service, Vietnam (or anything else in that period, including Desert Storm), plus the War on Terrorism. Oh, and effective 2005, Special Forces Medics (18D) are not eligible to win the CMB. I have no idea of the rationale for this decision, but it's in the reg. Doc

Unless they have changed the regs in the past 4 years (always possible), if you earned a combat infantry badge and a combat medic badge, you could wear both. Doc

Generally, they are totally separate. You join up and get your basic training (which is the same for all branches of the Army-- shoot, move, communicate, first aid, etc.), but then soldiers go on and get advanced individual training to learn their specialised skill sets (infantry, armor, aviation, artillery, medic, etc.). In the US Army, Medics are not infantry first, but medics. It is possible to transfer from Infantry to Medic later in your career in the Army, but it is not required, and is not all that common. Different maybe in different services, and certainly in the Special Forces. The special forces medic (18D) is a breed apart, and I've known several of them who were infantry first. Doc

You're welcome. Doc

Outside my area of knowledge, but from what I understand, being hit with an IED does qualify for PH, but not for CIB, etc. Generally, CIB and CMB require direct contact with the enemy on the ground, not only with his indirect weapons. For example, being hit by artillery fire or from the air does not normally qualify for CIB/CMB. I am sure some have been given after IEDs, but normally that was if the enemy was present and the troops dismounted and fought back against an ambush or attack force. Doc

Of course, the "Combat Action Badge"! My mind just couldn't call up the acronym. Thanks. And I dislike the design, but they didn't ask me. Criteria (from the web): On 2 May 2005, the Chief of Staff, Army approved the creation of the CAB to provide special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage, or are engaged by the enemy. (1) Intent. The requirements for award of the CAB are Branch and MOS immaterial. Assignment to a Combat Arms unit or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations, or performing offensive combat operations is not required to qualify for the CAB. However, it is not intended to award all Soldiers who serve in a combat zone or imminent danger area. (2) Specific eligibility requirements. (a) May be awarded to any Soldier. (b) Soldier must be performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized. © Soldier must be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. (d) Soldier must not be assigned/attached to a unit that would qualify the Soldier for the CIB/CMB. (For example, an 11B assigned to Corps staff is eligible for award of the CAB. However, an 11B assigned to an infantry battalion is not eligible for award of the CAB.) (3) Other Services and foreign soldiers. May be awarded to members from the other U.S. Armed Forces and foreign soldiers assigned to a U.S. Army unit, provided they meet the above criteria (that is, KATUSAs in 2d ID). (4) Qualifying periods. Award of the CAB is authorized from 18 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Award for qualifying service in any previous conflict is not authorized. (5) Subsequent awards. (a) Only one CAB may be awarded during a qualifying period. (b) Second and third awards of the CAB for subsequent qualifying periods will be indicated by superimposing one and two stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath. Doc

CIB and CMB are NOT "tour" awards. You must have been engaged in ground combat with an armed enemy at a certain unit level. (e.g. Division Staff are not normally eligible), but I have not kept up on the current requirements. I don't know anything about the CAB (I don't even know what it is... The old unofficial "Combat Armor Badge"????). There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB. (1) A soldier must be an Army infantry or special forces officer (SSI 11 or 18) in the grade of colonel or below, or an Army enlisted soldier or warrant officer with an infantry or special forces MOS, who subsequent to 6 December 1941 has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. (2) A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. The unit in question can be of any size smaller than brigade. The CMB requirements are similar. For details, see AR 600-8-22, which is available on the web. Doc

I wouldn't think so. This sounds like a small unit action with some good (or heroic) actions. In the current scenarios, there is a tendency to try to recognize exceptional acts, and good communications, aerial observation, and battlefield awareness on the part of the commanders tends to emphasize this. In WW2, such an action would probably not have been directly known to the unit commander until much later (if at all), and thus awards may not have been written up, or may have been overshadowed by other actions, or it may have just been seen as soldiers "doing their jobs". In today's scenario in Afghanistan or Iraq, The commanders can keep a better eye on their troops and their activities, there are more press around, and combat is episodic rather than continuous--- all of these make it more likely that a commander would be aware of such an event and write it up. This has led to many more awards for this type of action than in previous wars (some even complain of "cheapening" of the medals), but it certainly isn't a typical day in paradise. Doc

This is two separate issues-- the PH is pretty much automatic for anyone killed in combat (a few exceptions). The BS is given to those felt deserving, and the two issues are not necessarily connected. Most PH are not associated with a BS, though if the event in which the soldier was wounded/killed was felt to deserve a BS, then he/she would get both. This is much more common now than in previous wars. So, common? No. Possible? Yes. Doc

In my experience, the oak leaves from that period usually have two prongs on the back, but the prongs are so close together than they essentially go through one hole in the ribbon (then they are spread in opposite directions to hold the device to the ribbon). If you have three widely separated holes in the ribbon, I would guess that it represents 3 different devices (thus, either 3 awards, 7 [one of them being silver], 11 [two of them being silver], or 15 [a real bullet magnet]). Just going on statistics, I would bet that there should be three bronze oak leaves on it. Doc

It is a US State Department Meritorious Honor Award. NOT military. 3 FAM 4828 MERITORIOUS HONOR AWARD 3 FAM 4828.1 Description (TL:PER-436; 01-16-2002) (Uniform State and USAID) (Foreign Service, Civil Service, and Foreign Service National Employees) a. The Meritorious Honor Award is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance. The following criteria are applicable to granting a Meritorious Honor Award: (1) Outstanding service in support of a one-time event (e.g., support for a major conference or summit meeting); (2) Innovation and creativity in accomplishing short-term tasks or projects; (3) Outstanding performance in one or more areas of the employee?s official duties as defined in the Work Requirements Statement (Foreign Service) or Performance Plan (Civil Service); and/or (4) Contributions that resulted in increased productivity and efficiency, and economy of operations at post or bureau level. b. The award consists of a medal set and a certificate signed, by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the chief of mission. I have never seen one, nor have I worked for the State Department, so it is hard to correlate with any US military awards, but from the description of the reasons it will be given, it appears relatively low level-- perhaps equivalent to an Army Achievement Medal or (Maybe) an Army Commendation Medal. Certainly not as high as a military Meritorious Service Medal. Doc

At least, the guy at lower right is NOT 9th Air Force-- That patch is different. He is wearing USAAF patch, not a numbered AF one. Doc

From the shoulder patch sticking in from the right lower corner, Army Air Corps, but not from one of the numbered air forces. Wish I could read the linear tab under the patch (and the pocket patch on the other guy). Sorry, but nothing else helps identification. Maybe one of the technical intelligence teams? Doc

2 and 5 are current Army Senior Flight Surgeon and Air Force flight surgeon (not sure about the current terminology for the Air Force one [i think senior flight surgeon], but it is a higher level than for the one not having the star, and below the one with star and wreath.) Doc

Very weird! When did the US Army change from numbered to letter designation for companies? I thought it was prior to this time. 17th company may have been some kind of a training detachment designation. Guessing only, though. Doc

I believe that the technical name was "Iceland Base Command", and I agree that it is upside down. Doc

According to CURRENT regulations, a Soldier's medal can certainly be awarded to a foreign military member. b. The Soldier?s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The same degree of heroism is required as for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life. On the other hand, Table 3-1 of AR 600-8-22 specifically notes NO authorisation for foreign military personnel to the Purple Heart. In the cases of the Dutch and Belgians who were given Purple Hearts during the Korean War, I suspect that they were "awarded" informally and unofficially, perhaps as one writer noted, in hospitals. It would not surprise me at all to see all wounded in a hospital getting a Purple Heart, with the paperwork to follow later (that is usually how it is done). Foreign troops would never get any official award papers, as they were not officially recipients of the award, even though they might have been given one. You have to remember, most US field medical facilities keep a stockpile of PH on hand for use-- they are not controlled items, and are not in any way tracked as individual items. Giving one to an injured ally would be logical, even though not really legal. Now, if anyone has any formal documentation of an official award of the PH to an ally, I would love to see it, and would stand corrected. Doc

The 6th Army fought in the Pacific in WW2, and then became a HQ unit at San Francisco after the war. Since the uniform carries the 6th Army patch, but no corresponding Asia-Pacific Campaign ribbon, I suspect it was a post-war assignment. Ah, I just noted you also asked about the rank patch-- That is a Technical sergeant. This is similar to the US Army "specialist" ranks of the 1960s and 1970s. Doc

Interesting from a timeline standpoint, the Code of Conduct was first issued in about 1955. It could not be from WW2. On the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Ribbon, One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign under the following conditions: (1) Assigned or attached to, and present for duty with, a unit during the period in which it participated in combat. (2) Under orders in the combat zone and in addition meets any of the following requirements: (a) Awarded a combat decoration. (b) Furnished a certificate by a commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force that he actually participated in combat. © Served at a normal post of duty (as contrasted to occupying the status of an inspector, observer, or visitor). (d) Aboard a vessel other than in a passenger status and furnished a certificate by the home port commander of the vessel that he served in the combat zone. (3) Was an evadee or escapee in the combat zone or recovered from a prisoner?of?war status in the combat zone during the time limitations of the campaign. Prisoners of war will not be accorded credit for the time spent in confinement or while otherwise in restraint under enemy control. The arrowhead is authorized for wear on this medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. (and by the way, it should be point up!) Doc

Sounds OK to me. Doc

JonErik, good evening. From AR 600-8-22: Weapons for Which Component Bars are Authorized Weapons: Rifle Inscription: Rifle Weapons: Pistol Inscription: Pistol Weapons: Antiaircraft artillery Inscription: AA Artillery Weapons: Automatic rifle Inscription: Auto Rifle Weapons: Machinegun Inscription: Machinegun Weapons: Field Artillery Inscription: Field Arty Weapons: Tank Weapons Inscription: Tank Weapons Weapons: Flamethrower Inscription: Flamethrower Weapons: Submachine Gun Inscription: Submachine Gun Weapons: Rocket Launcher Inscription: Rocket Launcher Weapons: Grenade Inscription: Grenade Weapons: Carbine Inscription: Carbine Weapons: Recoilless rifle Inscription: Recoilless rifle Weapons: Mortar Inscription: Mortar Weapons: Bayonet Inscription: Bayonet Weapons: Rifle, small bore Inscription: Small bore rifle Weapons: Pistol, small bore Inscription: Small bore pistol Weapons: Missile Inscription: Missile Weapons: Aeroweapons Inscription: Aeroweapons M72 is a LAW, Light Antitank Weapon M79 is a grenade launcher Doc

Sivart-- do you have a regulatory reference for the "fact" that officers don't wear marksmanship badges? AR 670-1 does not make any such distinction, and AR 600-8-22 says that marksmanship badges may be awarded to all military (and a few civilian) personnel. They certainly were earned and worn in the late 70s and early 80s by officers in my units. I know many officers do not wear them (I have always believed that most officers can't shoot worth a damn, and simply didn't want to wear "sharpshooter" medals when their enlisted troops could demonstrate a higher level). I always wore mine with my uniform (expert on several weapons) as an officer, and none of my superiors ever questioned it. I never questioned it as a commander when my officers wore them, as I could not (and cannot) find a regulation which prohibits it. Doc

Thanks. Doc

May be the DSM, but I can't convince myself that I see the blue lines which should be there. No idea on the others. Question-- exactly what uniform is he wearing, and during which period was it worn? That might help narrow it down a bit. That might be Army staff badge, but there are several state badges which it could be as well, I believe. I can't see enough of it to call it the Army Staff Badge. If his service included Mexican Border service, he probably should have a WWI Victory Medal as well, just due to timing. Doc

Sorry for a double post-- previous comment only got partially uploaded. That's 30-60 days on Temporary Duty-- in other words, stationed somwhere else (like Germany), but sent into the theatre for short periods. Like it or not, he had to have been in theatre to get the Desert Storm Medals. They are pretty firm on that. Why a guy on a ship got the campaign medal and he wasn't eligible is a judgement call, but theoretically people eligible for the campaign medal could have been shot at (or rocketed, etc.)-- those not eligible were considered too far away to be in danger, even though their jobs were vital to the war effort. He very well could have gotten one of his other medals for his contributions, but if he wasn't in the theatre, he is not eligible for the campaign medal. That's just the way it is. To find out if he is eligible under one of those special provisions, you will need to find out where he was stationed and what he was doing. The star on the NDSM is for being on active duty during the Desert Storm period, anywhere in the world. As regards engraving-- The US does not routinely engrave any medals for anyone (except for the Medal of Honor), even though it is authorised. They are almost all issued unengraved (none of mine have my name on them). However, if you send the medals to the appropriate office, they will engrave them for you. AR 600-8-22 says: 1?32. Engraving of awards The grade, name, and organization of the awardee are engraved on the reverse of the Medal of Honor. The name only of the awardee is engraved on the reverse of every other decoration and the Good Conduct Medal.Normally, engraving will be accomplished prior to presentation. When this is impracticable, the awardee will be informed that he or she may mail the decoration (or Good Conduct Medal) to the Commander, U.S. Army Support Activity, Philadelphia, 2800 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101?3460, for engraving at Government expense. Doc