Posted on Feb 11, 2018
I am looking for a little help figuring out the rest of this ribbon stack. This is from a photograph of my Grandfather. Any takers?
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Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 35
Maybe #6 would be Korean Service. It would be in the proper place between the NDM and Vietnam Service.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter -
Thanks SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Haven't been able to figure out his #13 it has me stumped!
Thanks SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Haven't been able to figure out his #13 it has me stumped!
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LCDR Gordon Brown
It would also explain the star for the second award of the National Defense ribbon
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MSgt (Join to see)
TSgt David L. -
What about what appears to be a wreath in the middle as a device?
What about what appears to be a wreath in the middle as a device?
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I've never seen a ribbon like #13 and I'm Air Force retired. where is is in the ribbon arrangement it has to be a foreign ribbon. I looked on the South Vietnamese issue ribbons though and didn't find it there either. I'd love to find out now but still have no idea.
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TSgt David L.
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - I looked at foreign awards as well. Beats me. Interesting hunting though!
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CPT Jim Schwebach
While the ribbon may well be the Air Service Medal ribbon the device was not authorized for that decoration. The Air Service Medal was awarded in four grades; the first grade(1000 hours) with a gold airplane device, the second(600 hours) carried a silver airplane device and the third grade(300 hours) was presented with a bronze device. The remaining grade, the honor grade was awarded to members of other Vietnamese services or foreign servicemen for missions involving 10 flights on a RVNAF or allied aircraft. It was awarded with no device.
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COL (Join to see)
CPT Jim Schwebach - Then this person has it posted incorrectly on ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/vnd38-RVN-Vietnam-Air-Service-ribbon-device-gold-wreath-1st-Grade-Hang-R14D39/ [login to see] 68?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49923%26meid%3D3aeaa495481b4425979c3f15e9daf402%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D [login to see] 19%26itm%3D [login to see] 68&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1
vnd38 RVN Vietnam Air Service ribbon device gold wreath 1st Grade Hang R14D39 | eBay
Khong Vu Boi Tinh - Hang Danh Du ribbon bar device, Gold wreath. First grade (1000 hours) has a gold jet or wreath device. Early version used wreath in place of jet. Second grade (600 hours) has silver jet or wreath device. | eBay!
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CWO3 (Join to see)
It is the air service medal for sure, all the ribbons and the medal have the wreath on it. I will assume that it was worn correctly at the time.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
11 is Air Force distinguished service order 2nd class, mystery solved thanks To everyone involved.
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Without the ribbons being in color it's hard to determine what the blank picture ones are.
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In your shoes, I'd be writing off to the National Personnel Records Center for your grandfather's Official Military Personnel File, which should (but might not) have a complete listing of what he was eligible to wear. If it includes information about these (which in the case of #11 and #13 should be foreign awards), you'll have your answer. If they information isn't there, you'll at least have a list of duty stations which will allow you to determine whether there were countries other than Viet Nam where he served, and thus could have earned one of their awards.
I'll also note that the NPRC has different rules for different branches of the service, and as a grandson, I think you aren't considered Next of Kin for purposes of getting a copy of your grandfather's records, so you may need to enlist the effort of one of your grandfather's children, siblings, or your grandmother, if she's still around.
I'll also note that the NPRC has different rules for different branches of the service, and as a grandson, I think you aren't considered Next of Kin for purposes of getting a copy of your grandfather's records, so you may need to enlist the effort of one of your grandfather's children, siblings, or your grandmother, if she's still around.
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#13 is definitely a foreign award, and one I have seen before. Possibly a Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal as it looks like there may be some very faint stripes and the wreath matches the wreath on the medal. It would help to know if he was enlisted or an officer.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
The RVN Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class was indeed awarded to officers. From the left the ribbon consists of a narrow yellow band, , then a wider red band, then a series of seven alternating yellow and blue bands, then a wider red band and finally a narrow yellow band. It wouldn't appear as having dark outer bands in a black and white photo. The First Class level had a golden eagle device. The Honor Medal Second Class was presented to enlisted soldiers. It was the same ribbon as the First Class but without the outer yellow bands. The only authorized attachment was a silver eagle device. I've studied RVN and ROK Awards and Decorations since the mid-Eighties and this particular ribbon as presented in the photo matches none of the ribbons I've been able to find.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Jim Schwebach - You are spot on, it definitely does not match the first class ribbon, but the second class medal was a possible candidate because of the dark red outer border but I wasn't sure of the appurtenances for the medal, or if there were even stripes as the yellow and silver can often look faint in a black and white photo. Thai medals may be another option to look at given the era.
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Certainly #13 is a puzzler. The pattern resembles the RVN Air Service Medal, but I find no reference to the wreath associated with that award. It was never authorized for wear on Class A's for active duty personnel, but is allowed for honorably discharged veterans.
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What rank did your grandfather hold during his service? I ask because that would have a bearing on the awards, especially the foreign awardrs, he may have received. The National Order Of Vietnam was typically not awarded to junior officer or enlisted personnel(with the possible exception of the Marine Corps). That could account for #11. Based on it's location #13 is also a foreign award. Could be an award from a country other than ROK or RVN depending on whether he served somewhere else as part of a diplomatic, advisory or training mission. The device is significant as neither RVN or ROK used the wreath on any of their decorations.
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Sir, This is the only device that I could find that walks similar to that of the photo. I’ve gone through every service and could not find just a wreath device so I’m thinking that it may possibly just not show a letter due to the quality of the photo.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see)
I believe the C and R have been recently added to devices by the DOD. Not sure they were doing them during the Vietnam war.
I believe the C and R have been recently added to devices by the DOD. Not sure they were doing them during the Vietnam war.
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Number 13, I think is the Vietnam badass badge, judging by the rest of his rack...he didn't run from anything, god bless your grandfather!!
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