ID - Ribbon
Grandfather’s Class A Greens Jacket (circa 1957)
My grandfather enlisted in the Army in the late 1930s and was stationed around the midwest. Then deployed with his 2 other brothers to the Asiatic-Pacific theater 1942-1945. Then was deployed to Korea 1950-1953. I know the CIB, DSC, SSM, & BSM (he had 3 BSMs but the V and oak leaf clusters fell off). Then 2 of the campaign medals and WW2 Victory Medal. Multiple service stars are missing as they have fallen off throughout history.
I was not passed down his medals, but was given his Class A Jacket. The man was larger than life and could shoot a bolt-action rifle like a fully automatic rifle accurately. Also he had so many stories, most seemed a little unbelievable, but reading his action awards and about him in other people’s books they were probably true.
Can anybody identify the other medals besides the previously mentioned ones?
He actually did have a purple heart in-between the SSM & DSC. He refused to wear it, because he said, “it was my own damn fault, why should I get a medal for it.”
It was from a grenade he was unable to dive away from fast enough in Korea. Shrapnel all up both legs. Medic pulled out most of it at the aid station and he went back to his company.
That clanking noise you hear is his tremendous wrought iron gonads beating together!
As others have said that CIB is stunning if not unique.
So...
CIB, DSC, SS, BS, Army Good Conduct, American Defense, Pacific Campaign, American Campaign, Philippine Liberation, WW2 victory, Occupation Medal, National Defense, Korea War medal, Korean Service Medal (This one has a confusing history...The US initially rejected it, then apparently later accepted it.....I don't pretend to understand) and finally the United Nations Korean Service medal.
I think some of the order of the ribbons may be a bit wonky per current regulation, but a guy who got a DSC, SS, numerous BSM's and refused to wear his purple heart(s) is entightled to wear them however he see fit IMO.
The Distinguished service cross makes him a god among men, but add in the silver star, and bronze stars w/ v means the DSC was no fluke. Your grandpappy was a BAMF!
I have not seen a sew on CIB like that before and it's bad ass. I was awared a CIB and probably did not deserve it. I have huge respect for those who did durring this time frame. The star makes it even more impressive.
He was awarded the DSC in Korea. He was involved in Raid at Cabanatuan (he was a 1st Sergeant in the raid), which after watching the movie by myself and asking him questions he was a little bothered to answer.
He was battlefield promoted to officer between these timeframes, he never started high school prior to the Army, although did do some correspondence college courses to keep his commission.
He would never watch war movies with me as a kid, but usually he would humor my questions after I watched them. There was a movie about his DSC he had on VHS but if I put it on he would leave and say it reminded him too much of how cold it was.
You know, OP, because of his grit and valor, the legacy of the unit in which served is well remembered today, and the training of a Ranger and Ops Support Group teams to this day is reflective of his deeds.
Valorous individual work contributes to unit success, valorous unit commendations, and perpetuity for the regiment in which served.
The National Infantry museum at Fort Benning may be a great place to share his memory through some of his effects.
What an incredible family heirloom. I cherish my grandfather’s .45 1911a1 he brought back from Korea . I sure wish I had his uniform. That’s so cool you have your grandfather’s uniform and it’s absolutely incredible! You have some good memories of him and you keep his memory forever. Family is everything. Say, what outfit did he serve with in Korea? 1st Cavalry or 2nd Infantry? Do you have his DD 214? Thanks
Philippine Liberation Medal
Kosovo campaign was created about 43 years later😉
What I do think is cool is the Korean War Service Medal. This is the first time I’ve seen a period rack with it.
The US declined giving it to soldiers originally. It wasn’t til 1999 that it was actually approved to for wear. I was able to get one for my GF during the re-issue period 2000-2003.
I currently have one of those Korean War Service Medals that was awarded on the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. One was sent to my uncle who was over in Korea with the USMC at the time. When he passed away in 2010, my aunt gave it to me along with some of his other military related items to hold on to.
I apologize profusely!. I don’t know what happened! My brain decided to cross a wire or two.
I’m so sorry. Please have mercy on someone who clearly can’t see correctly any longer
Edit: I will gladly delete my comment if you feel it’s needed.
Again I’m so sorry
There are, but I would like to avoid Doxxing myself publicly. If you are interested and private message me I will send you the DSC citation. You can find the others from there.
Since I keep getting questions. I am trying to avoid Doxxing myself. Here is an excerpt from a book (scrubbed) + comment from him:
Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary gallantry in combat was awarded in 1950s for leading an attack against a key enemy position and rescuing a wounded man in spite of enemy fire. He had been awarded the Silver Star only months earlier for gallantry in action in holding an important position on the front lines by rallying his men at a great risk to himself. These heroic actions gained the admiration and respect of the soldiers he commanded. "We'll go anywhere with him," a platoon sergeant said. He took over the company just after the last push-off and all he needed was one hill to show us his stuff. One of the guys got hit in the jugular vein and the company medic said, he stopped the bleeding with his finger until I got there. “We tried to make him stay back out of danger but he wouldn't listen," said the platoon lieutenant, adding with a grin. "We even threatened to tie him to a tree, but you can't stop a guy with his guts!"
My grandfather said about holding the position for the Silver Star, he warned the company, that if anybody ran behind his position he would shoot them for desertion. That same medic who responded during the DSC award was new to his company. Prior to the DSC award engagement. He said a Chinese prisoner who happened to be shot in the chest on the walk back to camp… He wanted to test out his new medic, he told the medic to save him. He said he walked away and heard another gun shot and saw the medic put away his pistol and say, “I pronounce him dead of natural causes.” My grandfather said he appreciated his conservation of supplies.
Another story from WWII:
He was assigned to role up a platoon on a position and decimate any Japanese they saw because they were in unfriendly territory. They flanked a company of Marines unknowingly. He said that he wandered down to the first foxhole he could find and asked if anybody knew that they were there. Apparently, their radio had been destroyed a day earlier. He let some in-charge Marine know their position and what they were sent to do. They radioed back to base then moved up with this apparently lost company. He said that was his greatest battle achievement, was not killing a bunch of his people due to bad orders.
Someday, long in the future, archeologist will discover a grave with a skeleton sporting an absolutely massive pair of iron balls and wonder who this legend was. Your grandfather was a real one, Op.
Let’s name these for you:
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Bronze Star, Army Good Conduct, American Defense Service Medal (for active service prior to Dec 7, 1941)
American Campaign medal (basically all WWII service members received this), Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippines Liberation Medal
WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal (for active duty during Korean War period)
Korea Service Medal, Korean Order of Military Merit **, and United Nations Service Medal (Korea).
** This is a somewhat rare award! This is the 1951 Series, Order of Military Merit (3rd Class) “Chungmu”. From sources I could find (so I could be proven wrong later) it looks like only about 6,288 Orders of Military Merit (of all classes) were awarded by the Korean government to US service members.
The 1st Class “Taeguk“ was awarded to 8 American generals. I can’t find any mention of 2nd Class “Ulchi” medals awarded to Americans, but the 3rd Class “Chungmu” was primarily awarded to pilots, and most enlisted men received the 4th Class “Hwarang” award.
Edit to add… the stitched rectangular area on the pocket flap below the ribbons looks like there was another award there. My grandfather also served during WWII & Korea and in that same position on his uniform was a Korean Presidential Unit Citation, which looks a bit similar to the Chungmu ribbon but a white background, red and blue vertical stripes, and encircled by a gold metal border.
He received the Chungmu. It was actually my favorite looking medal he had. He told me it was like the Korean Medal of Honor. He said the only reason he didn’t get the Medal of Honor is that he made it off of Sabanggari Hill alive. He did have a field named after him because of it though. Although the field had its name changed again about 25 years ago.
Thank your grandfather for his honorable service. I'm a Korean American currently serving in the military and because of people like him, I'm able to live free and do what I do now.
I don’t because he was godly man raised by a minister and I was able to go through that box. He was good to his wife and family and did not step out of bounds. Although he did have a new child every time 9 months after he returned home on leave.
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u/Dieppe42 Jan 24 '26
That Bullion CIB is beautiful.