MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
Popular Military Ribbons
December 29th 2011 - 12:10 pm
There are many military ribbons that are awarded and worn by US military members each and every day. These ribbons range in precedence and for many different acts, or for terms of service. In today’s military there are a couple of military ribbons that are found on service members uniforms, and that is what I would like to delve into a little bit.
By far, the most common ribbon awarded to service members across the board is the national defense service ribbon. Some would argue that general service ribbon are awarded to everyone, but I would challenge that saying that there is an Air Force Service ribbon, and an Army Service Ribbon, but the Navy, Marine Corp., and the US Coast Guard do not have a service ribbon. The National Defense Service Medal and its counterpart military ribbon were commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This military award has been awarded to troops since 1953. This military decoration was originally designed and intended for the use as a “blanket campaign award”, to honor those that have served in various capacities during a time period that the United States military was at armed conflict. The criteria do not require that you actually be deployed to foreign soil, and participation in actual battle. If an individual has spent time in the military during this time of conflict they qualify for this award. To be more specific, regulations state that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded to any and all members of the United States military who has served honorably during a period of time that has been designated a “national Emergency”. This military ribbon and medal is the oldest military award still in circulation by the United States armed forces, this award is followed second by another highly dispersed award, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal has been awarded since 1961, and it continues to be a current day award. There are two other military ribbons that are in great circulation in today’s military, and they are the Global War on Terrorism service and expeditionary medals, and the ribbons that they are accompanied by.
The Global War Medals and ribbons were established by President George W. Bush in March of 2003. These military ribbons and medals were awarded for military service during the time of the terrorist acts on the United States in New York City, the state of Pennsylvania, and on the Pentagon in Washington DC. To qualify for these awards an individual must perform honorable duties in a designated anti-terrorism or in support of these operations, for a period of30 days, or 60 days if non-consecutive. If an individual takes place in actual combat operations there is not a minimum time period. A few of the operations associated with this military ribbon, and medal are the Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, and the operation Iraqi Freedom.
Both the National Defense Service Medal, and ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism awards are found on the uniforms of today’s service members, and are well known throughout the military.
Military Ribbons & Medals are only part of the Story
December 28th 2011 - 2:55 pm
I often wonder how my life would have been if I had remained in the military and retired. I would not change the life that I have lived nor would I give back all the experiences, and joyful times of my life for a different path, but I just wonder what it would have been like. I have many friends and family members that have retired from the service, and sometimes I am a little envious. I spent six great years in the Air Force, and I loved every moment. When I decided to leave the military it was because a business opportunity had presented itself, and I took the bull by the horns and never looked back. Well I guess I’m kind of looking back now aren’t I. It was nice to see my older sister retire, and my cousin that is a couple of years older than me retire as well, but now there are quite a few friends that are younger than me retiring and I have to think, what if. There are quite a few benefits to a military retirement, and one has to really contemplate that time of re-enlistment.
If I had stayed in the Air Force I would have been eligible for retirement about three years ago, and I would still be young enough to start a second career. While I was in the military I really enjoyed the ceremonial part of the military. I appreciated being recognized in front of my peers with military ribbons, and military medals, but it was more the feeling that your unit was thankful for you service. It was always nice to recognize my airman for a job well done when I was a supervisor. The better job that you do and the more commitment that you displayed the quicker you would rise in the ranks as well. In addition to the feeling of pride, and the camaraderie that was such a big part of military life, there were and are many great benefits that aid a person in being successful in life.
Once a person puts there time in, and is eligible for retirement, they will receive retirement pay for the rest of their lives. Sure there are many that debate the percentage of retirement, but from someone that left the military and is still working, forty or fifty percent retirement looks very good. In addition to the retirement pay that you will receive, you also have lifetime medical coverage, and access to discounted shopping on any military installation in the world. In today’s economy a person can use every break the can get, and believe me military retired service members reap the rewards of long and faithful service. In addition to all these rewards, they still get the honor of being awarded many Air Force ribbons, and Air Force medals, and serving their country proudly.
So those of you that are coming up on retirement, think about it long and hard. It is a tough world out there, and sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side, but it usually isn’t.
Gratitude Will Supersede Military Ribbons Every Time
December 26th 2011 - 12:26 pm
The holiday season is just that a season, it is not just one day and then back to work. I know it is the day after Christmas, and most of us are back at work doing what we do, without a second thought. There are those that have vacation built up, and are enjoying a week or two of rest and relaxation. From past experiences with friends and family it is not always feasible to get time off for the holidays, and it usually depends upon your seniority at your place of employment. I am home on winter break from school, and I have had three weeks off, with two more to come so I am fortunate to have some time off. The flip side to my time off is that I am not getting paid to relax as if I had paid time off. The fact is, in today’s economy it is tough for one to take time off and not earn money to stay afloat. There are a lot of folks that get themselves in a tough situation during the holidays, and cause undue stress upon them. It would be so nice if the tradition of Christmas was not to run out and max out your credit cards to get gifts, but if you had to make all gifts that were given during this time. I know that Christmas is not supposed to be about giving and receiving gifts, but you have to admit it has become a big part of this season. So if it is that way, and we probably can’t change it, maybe we can alter how we handle it. If we can just appreciate time spent with each other, and focus on our relationships this time of year would be so much more rewarding, not to mention less stressful. We actually have a perfect opportunity to do this with the kids out of school, and most have a day or two off. What about those that are not afforded this luxury, how can we reach out to them during this holiday season?
My heart always goes out to those that are less fortunate, and may not even have family and friends to be with and love. What about their holidays, shouldn’t they have a joyous season as well? Maybe we could reach out and help those that are less fortunate than we are, and let the true spirit of the holidays shine through. In my estimation the best gift you can give someone is your time, and I am referring to quality time from the heart. Sometimes it is as simple as taking the time say to a few kind words, or even just extending a smile. There are all levels of commitment to helping others, this range from volunteer programs to doing good deeds on the spot when the need arises. There are many citizens that take it upon themselves to help others, and make it a part of their daily walk. I like to think of the golden rule in these times and try to put myself in others shoes. I for one have been down and out, and have had people that I knew, and total strangers reach out a hand to help me back on my feet. Because I am a veteran, my thoughts are on the men and women of the military on a regular basis and what they go through during this time of year.
Our US military members spend more time away from their loved ones than in any other occupation. Think about this statement for a second, and you will be hard pressed to find another group of individuals that volunteer to do whatever is best to defend your freedom. If it requires being away from loved ones for months or years, this is what they do. The fact that they dedicate themselves to a greater cause, does not mean that they do not miss their loved ones and also wish they could be home. What if we dedicate ourselves to thanking these warriors for their commitment? Send a letter or a gift to a random soldier, and you will see how good it feels, and I am sure it will be well received from them as well. If in some way we can share the holiday spirit with these men and woman it will be returned tenfold. These protectors of freedom do not go overseas for the military ribbons and medals that they receive; they do it because they believe in the American dream, and they are protecting it. Don’t get me wrong we should honor these military members with these military awards, but that is not why they do what they do.
Warriors protecting our Freedoms
December 24th 2011 - 5:21 pm
So it is Christmas Eve, and I have been enjoying time with friends that came to stay with us last night. I think we take our time for granted, and don’t appreciate the little things like being able kick back and watch football and eat our favorite appetizers. Most games my wife gets the half-time goodies all ready and we sit back in our comfortable living room and watch our favorite teams. So what about that soldier on post watching for insurgents, or that naval officer commanding a submarine in the Indian Ocean? We are so blessed that we have men and women that are willing to protect our country day and night. You have to also think of the husbands and wives of these deployed service members and the time they spend waiting and praying for their loved ones to come home safely. When I was a young child I used to look forward to my dad coming home from work every day, but I never had to wait nine months or a year to see my dad. Our soldiers volunteer their time to our country, and sometimes it is at the expense of time with the ones that are closest to them. For a minute put yourself in their shoes, and try to imagine the holidays in this situation.
Sure we are in the middle of the Christmas and New Year holidays, but what about all the other important days. As a father I never want to miss a birthday of one of my children, or to be deployed for my wedding anniversary. We deploy our service members to destinations across the globe, and we don’t take their personal lives into account. We receive the benefit of their protection and more than likely do not give it a second thought. I personally am very thankful for the freedoms afforded to me the United States Government, and truly am thankful for the many sacrifices made each and every day by the best warriors in the world, our US service men and women. There are also many service workers that defend our country, and they also deserve our gratitude and respect for their service.
Some of the men and women that keep this country safe are our border patrol, and the men and women of TSA. We travel to and from our desired destinations, and usually complain about the inconveniences that we deal with in boarding and departing a plane. Do we ever think about the long days performing these duties, and the many times they pull these duties during the holidays? No one wants to work during holidays but security does not take a day off and much of the time neither do these security officers. These men and women may not be in the US armed forces, but they provide security for our country just the same. These men and women perform a vital role in our security, and are not awarded military ribbons or military medals, but they should be acknowledged and shown our appreciation just the same. We can look around our neighborhoods and see men and women in service all around us; policeman, firemen, DEA, correctional officers, and many more. So in place of the traditional military award find it in you to express how thankful you are for the protection we enjoy, and sometimes take for granted.
Homecoming is not just about Military Ribbons & Medals.
December 23rd 2011 - 10:16 am
I am overcome with emotion when I witness all the military homecoming events, large and small that are displayed by our media. Sometimes it is difficult to continue watching the news, because it seems like it is mostly bad news. As I enjoy my coffee this morning and watch the news on television, and surf the net at the same time, I am enjoying these stories. I just witnessed a surprise set up by a returning soldier that staged a gift from Santa, as she appeared around the corner as the gift that her kids were asking for. Times like this are precious, and although I do not know this female soldier it makes me feel good when we bring our soldiers home for a reunion like this. The best part of this episode was that her husband had one upped her, and staged a surprise for her, and as they strolled through the mall, and entered the main corridor, he had planned a homecoming with the high school band from her high school playing the national anthem. She was shocked at the outpouring of support, and overcome with joy and emotion, and to tell the truth so was I.
It amazes me how we can be so tough and unmovable in many circumstances, but if you are a service member or a veteran; all it takes to choke you up is the playing of the national anthem. It is hard to describe the feeling it gives you when you hear it. For me personally, it brings back fond memories of my military time, and how I miss those days. I will always keep those memories alive, and to me I still have a commitment to this country, to the military, and to my fellow comrades. I can still envision standing in formation as military ribbons and military medals were being awarded to deserving men and women. One the strongest memories that I have, was being a recipient of a military award myself. Throughout my career I did receive numerous military ribbons and medals, but this award was not one of those. The award I remember most was the John L. Levitoe leadership award. I was in leadership school, and I was doing my best to become the leader that the United States Armed Forces needed and had invested in. At this moment in my life I realized that I could be and do all that I wanted to if I dedicated myself to it and did it with honor and integrity. Although I am no longer in the service, that day, and my years of service have provided me the courage and will to always march on, regardless of the circumstances.
So as I witness the homecomings of our soldiers I know the impact that these days will have on them down road. These men and women that have volunteered to fight and defend this country will always be able to hold their heads high, and know that they did their part. As the years go by they will draw strength from their time of service, and they too will always be part of the military family. I would also venture to say that they too will shed a tear or two when they hear the national anthem.
Soldiers and the Holidays
December 22nd 2011 - 11:40 am
To my fellow veterans and to all my brothers and sisters in arms in the armed forces around the world, I wish you a joyous holiday season. I am geographically close to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs Colorado, so my mind has been on the homecoming of these soldiers, but I am excited for all service men and women that are returning to our promised land, and even more so during the holidays. In general it plays a toll on the family of a soldier when they are away, but it is that much harder when they are gone for Christmas. No number of military ribbons can replace the time spent with your family for the holidays. Don’t take me wrong, we do need to extend our thanks and gratitude in a manner that is perpetual, and this is a good reason for having our military medals and military ribbons, but if there was a choose of one or the other, we would all take 5 minutes of time over another military award.
One of the most rewarding and emotional times is when our troops return from deployment. When they blare the tunes of “Proud to be an American”, and the troops march around the corner into view, the tears will flow. There is hardly a dry eye in the hanger, and emotions are freely displayed. I for one get choked up every time, and it only takes the playing of the national anthem to start it off. I love to see a mother with her children at her side looking on proudly as her husband is pinned with the awards that he has surely earned. I may not even personally know the soldier being awarded, but in that moment of time he is my brother. These men and women have risked their lives by just going into a war zone to protect our freedoms. They do this for all of us, yes it is their job, but they proudly take on this job like no other.
It takes a special person to give everything, and expect nothing in return. Being a veteran, I hold a special place in my heart for these brave men and women, and quite frankly I hold them above the rest. Not everyone can be a warrior in the best military in the world, so those that can’t make the cut, support our troops and show some respect. If it weren’t for the dedication of our young men and women in the military you may not even have the freedom to enjoy this holiday season in the manner that we do.
Those Military Ribbons and Military Medals are Family Heirlooms
December 20th 2011 - 10:46 am
I am contacted on a regular basis by individuals that are either trying to acquire replacement military ribbons and military medals, or just trying to get information about them. In either case I enjoy assisting folks that care enough to show respect for their loved ones and the military decorations that they have earned. I would say the majority of people needing assistance in re-constructing a family member’s military history has a good idea what they need, and are just looking for someone to assist them in replacing these awards, or they are looking for mounting of military ribbons and medals. There are those that just need to fill the gaps in their collection, and may need a ribbon or medal to do so. In either case it is always a pleasure to help educate an individual about these decorations or help supply them with the missing awards. It seems that there are times of the year that the demand for assistance in these ventures is much higher than at other times. Approaching our national holidays always is a high demand period of time for putting together a loved one’s display of awards. Memorial Day, and Veterans Day lead the way in inquires for help to get this job accomplished, but the Fourth of July follows very closely. As we are now in the Christmas holiday season we also get many folks wanting to present a loved one with a display of military awards that they have earned.
During the Christmas holidays the vast majority of individuals looking to put together a collection of military ribbons or medals are doing so for their father. There are still a great number that are focused on their mothers, brothers, or an uncle’s service, but the majority is for Dad. With our history being what it is, these fathers served in the Vietnam or Korean War, or may have served in a time period after World War II. If an individual is looking for help with WWII awards it is usually for a grandfather, and many of these warriors have passed, and we want to honor their service. There are also the most recent heroes of our military that have served in the Southwest Asia battlefield.
Now that we have finally exited Iraq we are bringing our service men and women home, and for this we are appreciative. Too many lives were lost in the last twenty years in a war that has been fueled by much controversy. Regardless of the motive behind a battle, a United States soldier will always step forward and fight for the ideals that have made this country great. We may not always agree, or understand why we are deployed to a region, but we in trust in our commanders and we move forward. In this current time of soldiers returning home we rejoice for their safe return, and we praise their dedication to this country. It is awesome to attend these ceremonies for soldiers returning home, and to witness the pinning of military medals which are a symbol of their acts of courage and valor. There is also another part of this equation, it is very difficult but it is also a part of war, and that is the honoring of our fallen comrades.
Most of us can only hope and pray that our loved ones will return safely, but we know that in every battle we will lose a few good men and women. This is a reality of war, and is the hardest part to deal with as a family member of a service member. Although we may do everything we can to express our thanks to the family of a fallen soldier, we cannot bring them back. What we can do is honor their service in the best way we know how, and ensure that we convey our thanks as a country, and express to loved ones that the selflessness of these fallen soldiers is what allows us to enjoy our freedoms. Although material items do not mean much in everyday life, at this particular time of loss, the presenting of the American flag and a soldiers military ribbons and military medals are something tangible to help keep the memory of a brave man or woman alive.
Military Ribbons Help Tell the Story
December 19th 2011 - 9:03 am
I am so proud of the men and women of our armed forces that have served in or supported those serving in Iraq. As the last soldiers convoyed across the Iraq/Kuwait border it must have been a sense of relief, and the opening of a new chapter for the men and women. I can picture the homecoming ceremonies, and the love and laughter filling those aircraft hangers, and auditoriums across military installation across the country. Everyone knows someone that has contributed to this storied time in US history. Take the time to let them know just how proud you are of them, and how because of them we can sleep at night knowing we are a little more secure. Don’t let the military ribbons and military medals are the only thanks that these warriors receive. Take the time to get to know their military history, and the best way is through their awards and decorations.
It is actually quite easy to follow the career path of a soldier by talking about their awards. For example: when you see a soldier that is wearing the Purple Heart you know that he or she was wounded in combat, and received this award for an act of bravery in direct defense of his fellow service members. On the other hand there are more simplistic military ribbons that also contribute to the story. Let’s take the Army Ribbon called the army overseas service ribbon. If this ribbon is worn without any devices attached to it, then you know that the individual participated in one overseas campaign. If the soldier has been deployed overseas more than once it will be reflected by the device affixed to this military ribbon. Let’s take three tours for instance, this would be indicated by the bronze numeral “3” placed on the service ribbon. The other branches of the military also have an overseas service ribbon, but the criteria, and the devices may be different. In the Air Force, there are two overseas service ribbons, one is called the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, and the other is the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon. Both of this ribbon is awarded according to their specific qualifying criteria. Both of these military ribbons are affixed with bronze or silver oak leaf clusters depending upon the number of deployments the soldier, airman, marine, or seaman participated in. This is just one of many military ribbons, and there are many military medals, that can help you tell the story of a service member. To get the real story behind their tour of duty overseas, well you’re just going to have to have that conversation. To get that conversation off to a good start remember what I said about expressing our gratitude and how proud we are of all our troops. Take this little bit of advice to heart, and take advantage of the opportunities every chance you get. This same reflection of thanks should also be extended to all our veterans that have given us our freedoms over the years.
They are Finally Coming Home!
December 18th 2011 - 10:38 am
So the last troops have finally left Iraq! This is way overdue, but better late than never. It seems like sometimes we get so involved in our support or control of a situation that we can’t stop, or leave in this case. I personally am glad we are turning over control of Iraq to the Iraqi people, and it is now time for them to step up and take control of their own destiny. I have had family and friends serving in southwest Asia over the years, and I am glad that they made it back safely. For all the good it may have been for throughout the years, I still do not think it was worth one lost life. I am currently watching the news, and it is a good feeling to see the last of our brave troops and their convoy driving off Iraq soil. World news states that over 4500 American lives were lost in Iraq, and they seem to say this in passing. To me 45 lost American lives lost are way too many. I support our troops in whatever campaign that they are in, and always keep them in my thoughts and expect the best outcome for the situations that they find themselves in. As a veteran, I think that one has a different level of patriotism, and love for this great nation, and most importantly respect for our troops. As we see our men and women return home, we observe a lot of homecoming events, such as parades, etc. At many of these events military medals and military ribbons are awarded to these brave soldiers, and they well deserve. There has never been a greater time when military awards have been pinned on our service members. The number of Purple Heart medals, and the awarding of the Bronze Star are at an all-time high, and this is just another indication of the great sacrifices that our service members have endured. One special note that I think is worth mentioning is that we have had more women in direct combat support than we ever have in our history, and I applaud these brave woman and all that they have done and continue to do. Regardless of you’re feeling about the wars in the middle-east, it is always imperative that we show or support for the brave men and women that we put in harm’s way. After all there is not a draft underway, and these brave service men and women have volunteered to stand up and fight for our freedoms. It is not everyone that has it in them to give of themselves to fight for a greater cause. Most will stand on the side lines and watch and criticize what we are doing or where we are in the world, but few will step forward, put on the uniform with pride, and say I will defend this nation from enemies foreign and domestic. These brave soldiers put our safety as a nation above their own personal safety, for this we owe them our deepest gratitude. So the next time you see them receiving their military ribbons or military medals, take time to say thank you for your service, it just might mean as much to them as any award they may receive. After all they do not go into battle to earn military awards; they go to protect your freedom and to insure that you have the opportunities that you enjoy each and every day. Bottom line is, thank our troops for a job well done.
Show Your Gratitude with Military Ribbons and Military Medals
December 17th 2011 - 12:42 pm
It seems to me that each of us should have plenty of friends and relatives in the military today, or have had folks close to them serve. I’ve had close relatives and lots of friends serve in the U.S. armed forces throughout the years. They have served in all branches of the military, but in particular, I have had a large percentage of them in the Air Force. It varies as to the term of duty and sometimes they are gone for a couple of months; and at other times they are gone for up to several years. But no matter how many times we part ways when they are deployed, I’m always so relieved and excited once they have landed on the home turf, and have returned home.
Some of these individuals have been closer to me than others, and to show my appreciation, and how proud I am of those that have served I try to do something special for them. To show my support for my brothers and my very close friends, I have decided to honor them with a display of the military ribbons and medals that they have earned. It is sometimes hard to get the information necessary to pull this off, but while working with spouses, and parents I can usually get all the information that I need. In the process of putting together this display of awards it is hard to not get emotional, and overcome with pride for these service members. It is a gift to just have your loved ones return from overseas combat, and I try to not take this for granted. When I was very young my close uncle left for the Army, and we had a big departure party for him, but at the time I did not realize he was going to the Vietnam War, and that there was a chance he would not return. There are countless stories about relatives that were killed in action, or missing in action. I am very fortunate that I have never had a friend or relative die in combat or in the military in general.
I imagine it would be much more difficult to present the widow of a service member, or a mom or dad with these awards, but I believe that they would still appreciate the gesture. When you are putting together ones military ribbons, and military medals you can kind of take a trip down their career path and get a small glimpse as to what they have been through. It is always any exciting time when the day comes that they return, and I can express my gratitude for their commitment and a job well done. When I have presented these displays, I am not sure who sheds more tears them, or me. I know this is but a small token of gratitude, but I always feel like I have done my part in saying, “Thank You”. I can’t even begin to describe the looks on their faces. It is a very emotional experience, and nothing can take that memory away from them, or the rest of my family.
If you have loved ones that have served this great nation, or are currently serving, let them know how much you appreciate them. You don’t have to put together a set of military ribbons or military medals to let them know you are proud. It could be as simple as a letter, or card that expresses you gratitude
The Difference between Military Ribbons & Military Medals
December 15th 2011 - 9:54 am
When talking about military awards there are several catagories of awards. The most popular or talked about awards are the full size military medals. These medals are what a service member recieves from his commanding officer for a specific act or catagory thereof. In addition to the full size medals, there are miniature medals, these medals are half the size of full size medals and are sometimes worn in lieu of the full size. You will usually see the miniature version used when a soldier attends a formal function. The miniatures are referred to as worn on the "Mess" dress. The exact circumstance as to when you wear the miniature medals as opposed to the full size medals depends on each individual branch of service. To further complicate things, the different branches of service also have different uniforms that they may wear, and each of these has its own specific set-up. There is also the choice of subdued medals versus anodized medals, but you mostly see this in the Navy and Marine Corp.
In addition to the medals described above there are also the military ribbons, and unit citations. Service ribbons are a representative award of the medal. What I meen by this is that each medal has a ribbon that represents it when a service member wears their ribbons. In general a service member will normally wear their ribbons for day to day activities if they are in dress uniform for their particular job performance. Oviously if a soldier does not wear their dress uniform they would not be wearing their awards. In day to day activities of a service member in dress uniform would have their service ribbons pinned over the pocket of their shirt or jacket. These ribbons go over the left pocket and specific placement may vary form branch to branch. As I stated all medals have a ribbon that represent them, but not all ribbons have a corresponding medal. For example all of the overseas ribbons for every branch of service only award a ribbon for overseas service. In addition to the overseas ribbon a soldier will generally receive a ribbon that represents the campaign they were involved in. A good example of this would be a soldier that was deployed to Iraq, he or she would also receive the Iraq Service Medal. As stated earlier this soldier would then be able to wear the Iraq full size medal, the miniature medal in dress uniform, or the Iraq service ribbon on their day to day dress uniform.
Finding Military Ribbons & Military Medals
December 14th 2011 - 9:20 am
As a veteran and collector of military ribbons and military medals I have found it very difficult to acquire the various military awards to complete a collection of uniform worn decorations. Most if not all of the ribbons are available as new ribbons or medals, but some of the more rare awards from vietnam, Korea, or World War II are tough to get. I was recently looking for unifoem worn items to add to my collection, and items even as common as specialty badges are hard to come by. Sure I could just buy the awards for a collection, but I prefer awards that have actually been worn. Even more important I like collecting medals that were actually awarded to an individual. In the event that I cannot locate such medals, I generally order them from a company such as My Military Medals. This company seems to have a good selection at fair prices. If you are trying to put together a collection of awards that a family member may have earned the best place to start is to acquire their DD214. Once you have this document in hand, it is just a matter of going on line and ordering, or calling My Military Medals directly.
We often overlook our families
December 13th 2011 - 8:38 pm
I was talking with my daughter the other day by phone and she mentioned that when her grandfather passed away one of the items that was left to her was disarrayed shadow box with some of his Navy medals and ribbons along with shoulder patches with his rank on them. I was never really very close to John, but knew that he had retired from the Navy. She was really interested in these items and wondered just what they mean and some of the history behind them.
I had no clue at the time just what ribbons, medals, and awards he had been awarded so I asked her to send me a picture of the shadow box and its contents. When I received the picture I realized I should of also asked for his DD214 as the pictures did not show the items very clearly. I was also not sure if all of his awawds were included in this shadow box. I wanted to give her something special for Christmas and I decided a new shadow box with all of his Navy ribbons and medals with some explanation of them would really make her happy. So I started the research without the DD214 after asking her to see if she could find one. Maybe from her mother who had given this box to her would have it. I know we can obtain one but it would take longer then if she could come up with one herself.
My daughter recalls John talking about some of his experiences to others and realized how important the Navy was to him. He sounded very proud of his service to his country and the Navy but seemed to hold back when talking about World War II and those times. A better word for holding back would be guarded. I told her that is the case with most of us who served in a war as many things are not easy to recall or to talk about. They can start in motion things that we service people who have been there really do not understand within ourselves; therefore, it can be very difficult on us for a time afterwords.
As I am doing this research I found he was a Leutenant Commander. A couple of the medals so far is an American Defense, WWII Victory, and a Euopean/African/Middle Eastern Campaign medal. As I do my research I will write more about what I find. From what I see in the picture I get a feeling there are a lot more awards that I am not seeing as he spent much of his adult life in the Navy and did retire, but not sure of the total lenghth of time. I can see a DD214 is a must.
Military Ribbons tell the Story
December 13th 2011 - 9:16 am
Just about all of us have been in the presence of military members in uniform. How many of us have admired these soldiers, but not ever said a word. What does it hurt to express your gratitude to our service members when you encounter them. After all, these men and women make the sacrifice to be in the military, and fight for our country. To them it is not a sacrifice, it is what they do, and they do it well. What I meen by sacrifice is the position they put themselves in so that we can all sleep sound at night knowing that our military members are protecting us. If it were not for those willing to wear the uniform, and stand up for rightiousness, we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy. As a veteran I have an extremely high level of respect for our service members, because I have been there. I know that sometimes you have to be away from your family, and be in uncomfortable circumstances. A kind word or expression of gratitude will impact a soldier more than receiving a military ribbon. Sure the military awards military ribbons and military medals to award soldiers for their acts of valor, and courage. I think that these military awards are as much for the unit as they are the soldier. What I mean by that is, it is an opportunity for the unit to recognize an individual for a job well done.
Ask about those Military Ribbons
December 11th 2011 - 9:16 am
The next time you have a soldier walk by, and you admire their uniform and look at their awesome awards, ask about them. If you are a civilian and have not had military experience you more than likely are curious as to what the military medals and ribbons one ones uniform stand for. As a veteran myself, I am able to look at a set of military ribbons or medals and know that service members military history. For the average non-military citizen this would be tough to do only because they would not have the background to do so. If you use good manners, and truely are interested, most service members would be delighted to explain what their decorations stand for, and where they have been that warrant the particular military decoration. I always enjoy talking to military members, and especially hearing their stories about their overseas experience, but you need to be respectful to those that choose to not talk about it. I recently was talking to a friend of mine, and she mentioned that her husband had received the Bronze Star Medal, and explained to her how prestigous and high ranking this medal really is. I also explained that she should be very proud of him, and that he has provided a great service to this country. Too often, we take for granted the men and women that defend this country and allow us the freedoms that we have each and every day. So if you ever get a chance yo ask a soldier about his awards, take the chance and start the conversation.
Military Medals are more then just another award
December 10th 2011 - 12:43 pm
Military medals are important to just not the owner but also to others that are familiar with that person. When ever you see a veteran in a parade you should feel thankful that he has given a part of himself or herself to the protection of your freedom. Too often people will shy away from a veteran and I feel that it is part of that persons personality letting him or her know that this person has given of him or her self more then just the common ordinary person. You can tell that a person is familiar or is a person of the military, past or present by their respect for the person by either applauding that person or standing up or even saluting that individual as he passes in a march or parade. This is often seen even as a casual meeting on the street. I for one look the person in the eyes and by doing so hope to make contact with that person so as to thank him or her for dedication and call of duty to our wonderful country. I was shocked but not surprised when December 7th (the 70th anniversary) of Pearl Harbour and there was hardly a mention of it or local support for those that endured this action that brought us into the second World War. I am only aware of one military medal that is directly representative of World War II, and that is the World War II Victory Medal. Consequently there is also a service military ribbon awarded with this medal. The reason that the ribbon is given with the medal is that most service member only wear their service ribbons in daily activity and wear their medals for ceremonial purposes.
Let us not forget Pearl Harbor
December 10th 2011 - 11:09 am
Just the other day my daughter told me she had enjoyed watching a movie called "Pearl Harbor". She also stated that after she finished watching the movie that she found it odd that there were a lot of doumentries airing about the same subject. Being that she is only a teen ager I guess I will have to excuse her, but I was a little dissapointed that she did not realize that the next day was the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. It is sad that as time goes by that the memories of events in our countries history fade. We need to ensure that we learn from history, and one way of doing this is by educating our young folks as to the many times of difficulty that our country has been through. It seems like a great dis-service to those men and women that sacrificed their lives if we do not keeep in rememberance those trying times. When we see a service member wearing his or her military medals, and military ribbons we need to have a healthy respect for their effort in receiving these military awards. When we see someone that has the Purple Heart, or the Bronze Star we tend to thank them for service, and applaud their efforts. We should do this, but we should be thankfull to all those that have served this great country. It should not matter if you are wearing Army Medals or Navy Ribbons, if it is a service member, thank him or her for their service.
Army Medals and Ribbons
December 10th 2011 - 9:35 am
Yesterday I stopped by an army surplus type store just to look around. Since I have been involved with the military for most of my life I enjoy looking at everything from equipment, to supplies for combat, and even survival items that you can use for recreation in your everyday life. I am somewhat of a collector of military awards, so I am always looking for old army medals or really any type of military decorations. While walking around this store I noticed a wall of fame in a corner of this store. My son was with me, and he was curious about what I was looking for, so I explained what the framed military awards was all about. The store owner was a military veteran from the Korean War, and there were old pictures of him during those years. One of the most interesting frames that was hanging on the wall was a collection of foreign military awards that was from the World Wat II era. There were even recent photos and awards from the desert storm conflict in Southwest Asia. My son found the Kuwait liberation Medal to be one of the coolest medals he had seen. It was nice to enjoy history and also give a little history lesson to my son.
