USS Wisonsin

[bigjarofwasps]

Hi Guys,

Was surfing the net when I found this....

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) ("Wisky" or "WisKy") is an Iowa-class battleship, the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 7 December 1943.

During her career, Wisconsin served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, where she shelled Japanese fortifications during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and screened United States aircraft carriers as they conducted air raids against enemy positions. During the Korean War, Wisconsin shelled North Korean targets in support of United Nations and South Korean ground operations, after which she was decommissioned into the United States Navy reserve fleets, better known as the "mothball fleet." She was reactivated 1 August 1986 and modernized as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and participated in the 1991 Gulf War.

Wisconsin was last decommissioned in September 1991, having earned a total of six battle stars for service in World War II and Korea, and a Navy Unit Commendation for service during the 1991 Gulf War, and currently functions as a museum ship operated by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum at Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Wisconsin was struck from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) 17 March 2006, and is currently awaiting donation for permanent use as a museum ship.

Can anyone tell me what the criteria is for a Battle Star & or a Unit Commendation?

[bigjarofwasps]

Above from this webpage..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wisconsin_(BB-64)

Have a read of the Gulf War service, its mad to think that this ship fought the Japs in WW2, the Koreans & the Iraqi`s during her service!!

[bigjarofwasps]

Thought this picture of her rather poignant.....

[Taz]

Bronze Star Device etc.

Criteria:

A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service medals, ribbon awards, and certain military badges. Service stars are different from award stars, which are issued for multiple awards of meritorious and combat decorations. The United States military issues bronze and silver and gold service stars, with a silver service star issued ?in lieu? of five bronze. For instance, six campaigns, served on a campaign medal, would be annotated by one silver and one bronze service star. In some situations, service stars are only issued after the second award of a decoration. For instance, three awards of a Sea Service Ribbon would be annotated by the ribbon with two bronze service stars. The United States Army also occasionally issues award numerals, instead of service stars, to denote multiple awards of certain ribbon decorations. In addition to award numerals, the United States Army uses the same Gold award star that is worn on many Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard decorations to denote the tenth and final award of the Army Sea Duty Ribbon. Service stars issued for actions in which a United States Navy vessel participated are also placed on campaign streamers, which are affixed to the U.S. Navy flag. The regulations for this originated in 1942, which defined naval campaign areas and designated engagements. Participation in such engagements, by ships and by individuals, was then denoted by service stars. The United States Army followed a very similar practice with ground campaigns and battle engagements. A common point of confusion is to confuse bronze and silver service stars with the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal. The main difference between the two is that the Bronze and Silver Star Medals are individual decorations while service stars are worn on awards and are not individual decorations or medals.

Edited September 11, 2007 by Taz

[Taz]

Navy Unit awards

DEFINITION.

A unit is any ship, aircraft squadron, shore command or military organizational element composed of military personnel under control of a military command and charged with carrying out a military mission or function.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

To foster unit morale, incentive, and esprit de corps through prompt recognition of outstanding performance of group effort. Unit awards recognize entire organizations for outstanding heroism or achievement performed during periods of war, international tension, national emergencies, or extraordinary situations that involve national interests. They are restricted to the recognition of acts or services that clearly and distinctly, by nature and magnitude, place the unit's performance significantly above that of other units performing similar missions. They are not intended to recognize individual actions, but to acknowledge the combined efforts of the organization. The performance should be that which can be recognized adequately in no other way. The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) and Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) may be awarded to units of the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard with concurrence of the parent service.

Description of Unit Awards - Navy

Presidential Unit Citation

Awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and co-belligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would be required for award of the Navy cross to an individual.

Authorization: Executive Order 9050, 6 February 1942

Navy Unit Commendation

Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to any such unit which has distinguished itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations, rendering the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service. To justify this award, the unit must have performed service of the character comparable to that which would merit the award of a Silver star Medal for heroism or a Legion of Merit for meritorious service to an individual.

Authorization: ALNAV 224 of 18 December 1944

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Awarded by SECNAV, CNO or CMC to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself, under combat or non-combat conditions, by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. To justify this award, the unit mush have performed service of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Bronze star medal, or achievement of like caliber in a non-combat situation, to an individual.

Authorization: SECNAV Notice 1650 of 17 July 1967

Hope that helps,

Regards Eddie.

Edited September 12, 2007 by Taz

[bigjarofwasps]

Cheers Guys,

So basically if she`d been a person she`d have won 6 Bronze Stars?

[Taz]

The Navy Unit Commenation would merit the award of a Silver star Medal for heroism or a Legion of Merit for meritorious service to an individual.

The Stars just denote the number of campaigns the unit served in.

In this case six, which would mean it would be denoted by 1 silver and 1 bronze device

The United States military issues bronze and silver and gold service stars, with a silver service star issued "in lieu" of five bronze. For instance, six campaigns, served on a campaign medal, would be annotated by one silver and one bronze service star.

Regards Eddie.

[David S]

Not bronze stars, but battle stars for campaign participation.

This is a close-up of a larger picture (too big to post) of the 'awards' to the US Aircraft Carrier Carl Vinson

Personnel on the ship when the awards happened are authorized to wear said award on their uniform

Navy Unit Commendation

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Navy E ribbon

Navy Expeditionary

National Defense

Armed Forces Expeditionary

SW Asia Svc

Navy Sea Svc Deployment

Edited September 12, 2007 by David S

[bigjarofwasps]

Gotcha, so basically there along the same lines of battle honours....

[David S]

Yep . . . the US Naval version

[bigjarofwasps]

Can anyone recommend any books on the history of the USS Wisconsin?

[Tiger-pie]

Do US ships display their battle honours? Is it just the ribbon they use as an indicator?

Example below is from HMAS Perth (decommissioned). These are generally mounted in a passage on the ship, one is issued to each ship.

Regards;

Johnsy

Edited September 18, 2007 by Tiger-pie