Posted on Nov 5, 2018
PO2 Richard Schwallie
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I'm trying to put together a shadowbox for my deceased Stepfather, and am trying to figure out the (historically accurate) items for it. He served from 1944-1947 (USMC) and left the Okinawa battlefield after of a hand grenade wound. While alive, he claimed that no awards were presented to him in person, and our family has jumped through hoops to confirm and obtain documentation. I have received multiple docs from DoD, and each one lists different Medals/Awards. I'm not familiar with some of them, and want to be as close to "accurate" as possible. I have his Purple Heart, but no other awards or decorations. The ones that confuse me are the weapon qual. Badges. His papers list "Rifle Marksman (M1)", "Rifle Sharpshooter", and "Automatic Rifleman". I've searched the internet for these (the SS- Auto. Rifle "clasp" is hard to find). I've seen the badges with a single chain link in the center, 2 chains; Badges with "Marine Corps" in the top bar, and "Sharpshooter" in the top pin bar... seems that they changed over time.
Can anyone give a definitive description of the Badge that would have been issued to a PFC in 1944/45 ? Some VERY LOOSE example picts added here to describe what I'm finding... Thanks.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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Edited >1 y ago
PO2 Richard Schwallie it appears that the Rifle Sharpshooter badge is essentially unchanged from 1937 until today. Putting together a shadow box for your deceased Stepfather is a good way to honor him.

https://ia802602.us.archive.org/7/items/USMarineCorpsMarksmanshipBadgesFrom1912ToThePresent/USMarineCorpsMarksmanshipBadgesFrom1912ToThePresent.pdf
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PO2 Richard Schwallie
PO2 Richard Schwallie
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Sgt Hallock, Thank you for the information. The manual recognized that there was some confusion during the changes over time - so I don't feel so bad now ! I finished my Father's Army shadowbox and my own from the Navy... but official documentation for my Stepfather's service has been a bit of a chore. I don't think he was interested in waiting for anything when he mustered out, and was just glad to be out of Okinawa. Thanks again ! It is very useful info.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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PO2 Richard Schwallie - You are welcome Richard. My father was a Captain in the Air Force who served in WW11 and Korea. He was killed in 1956 when his plane crashed on a training mission. My shadow box has my items on one side and my father's wings, picture badge, and dog tags on the other side. It is great that you are honoring your father and stepfather with shadow boxes.
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