WW2 U.S. Medals

By Jonathan Gawne

The following is text from an article that ran in Militaria Magazine. It is copyright, 1996 by Jonathan Gawne, and so please don't just "borrow it" without permission.

When medals or ribbons are worn on the uniform, they serve as a capsule record of  a soldier's
time in service. Those that understand how to read these decorations are able to instantly
know something about one's military career. For collectors, decorations serve as  important
clues to the history of a uniform, and can help detect uniforms pieced together from spare
insignia. 


There are three kinds of medals awarded to U.S. military personnel. Decorations are awarded for
specific acts of bravery or outstanding service, service medals are awarded to soldiers who have taken
part in specific campaigns, and the Good Conduct medal is considered in a category of its own. Every
aspect regarding US military insignia, decorations, and medals falls under the jurisdiction of the
Institute of Military Heraldry. All changes, new designs, or questions are handled by this agency.
Although all the services (Army, Navy, USMC, and Coast Guard) of WW2 share certain medals,
there are many  differences  in medals between the land and ocean going services. This article deals
primarily with Army regulations (which includes the wartime Army Air Forces).

The actual medal with the ribbon 'hanger' is  worn only on special occasions. On the everyday uniform
a section of the medal's ribbon (called a ribbon bar) is worn. Ribbon bars are worn in a specific order
from top to bottom and from wearers's right to left. Decorations are worn first, in descending in order
from the Medal of Honor on down, followed by the Good Conduct Medal, and then all service medals
in a specific standardized order. After the US service medals,  any authorized foreign decorations may
be worn.  The small  metal devices attached to the ribbons are officially called "appurtances" and add
to the information about what the medal was awarded for.

THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL

Alone among US medals the Good Conduct falls into a category of its own. It is neither a service
medal, nor an actual decoration for a specific feat. It can only be awarded to enlisted men who were
rated "excellent" in both conduct and efficiency ratings, and had not been convicted by court-martial
during a specific time period. Officers may never be awarded this medal as they are considered to
always show 'good conduct'. Only those officers who have spent time as enlisted men before being
commissioned may wear this medal, and  many of them are prouder of it (as it shows that they were
once a common soldier), than of any decoration awarded for superior performance as an officer.

The Good Conduct medal was first authorized in 1941. A soldier had to stay out of trouble for three
years before he could be awarded it. A second trouble free three year period allowed the soldier an
appurtenance with a small metal knot on it to show the second award. Every three year period allowed
another knot, until six awards were reached, then  silver knots would stand for 5-9 awards, and gold
knots stood for 11-15 awards (45 years!). The knots are actually  a play on the word 'hitch' which
means a period of enlistment.

Only service as of August 1940 was counted for the Good Conduct medal.  When WW2 came along
the Army decided to boost morale by making it easier to earn the good conduct medal. The 3 year
period was shortened to 1 year for the first award if the time served was between 7 Dec 1941 and 2
March 1946 (for the second award it went back to three years). This allowed the majority of enlisted
men in WW2 to earn their good conduct medal soon after  they finished training. This medal was also
awarded to men who were killed in action before finishing their first one year period.  Like decorations
for valor, the good conduct medal is considered an award earned by an individual's actions, and thus
has a location on the reverse for the awardee's name to be engraved. It is more common to find
unengraved examples, as this normally had to be done by the awardee.  Unfortunately, units, branches
of service,  or campaigns are rarely engraved on US medals and tracking down information on a
recipient is an almost impossible task. As almost every enlisted man was awarded this medal, some
trouble makers actually took pride that they had not gotten their good conduct medal. Some very early
Good Conduct medals were serial numbered around the rim of the medal, but there are no records that
can tie this number to the awardee. The other services have their own differently designed  good
conduct medals.

 SERVICE MEDALS

Service, or campaign, medals were instituted by the US Army in 1905. General Chaffee, who had
started his own crusade for such medals while on the China Relief Expedition, was able to have them
authorized once he had become the Chief of Staff  of the Army. The first five service medals
authorized in 1905 were for the Civil War, and the Indian, Spanish, Philippine and China Campaigns.
Until WW1, all service medals were serial numbered on the rim; a practice that was no longer possible
once millions of men were authorized the WW1 victory medal.

WW1 Victory Medal
The WW1 Victory medal was still seen on many uniforms in WW2. Bars
were worn on the ribbon hanger, stating the names of individual battles, while on the ribbon bar a
bronze star was worn for each campaign bar awarded. There are 14 authorized Army battle clasps, and
5 authorized service clasps (given for non-battle service in five different countries). Numerous
examples of unauthorized clasps were produced. On the ribbon bar a small silver star denotes an
award for gallantry (and was later turned into the Silver Star medal). In addition, individual states,
counties, and towns had their own victory medals made up for their  brave boys home from the war.
These local awards are a very popular collectable in heir own right.

With a shortage of medals and ribbons at the end of the war, many manufacturers and unscrupulous
salesmen tried to sell all manner of ribbons to US servicemen. Some rather odd looking ribbons can be
found on WW1 era uniforms, which range from veterans association ribbons, to civil awards for
swearing off alcohol. One of the more amusing stories is of French sutlers who sold obscure and
obsolete French Army ribbons to US soldiers telling them that a 'Madagascar campaign' ribbon was
really the new  ribbon "for all members of the AEF". Any soldier staying in the military after WW1
would have eventually  removed these unauthorized ribbons, but men discharged in 1918 had no
reason to remove their 'hard earned ribbons' and collectors continue to be puzzled by some very
strange looking ribbons.


WW1 Occupation Medal (authorized 1941)

This medal was authorized for men who had served in the Army of Occupation (Germany or Austria-
Hungary) from 12 November 1918 to 11 July 1923. It is referred to as the 'Pershing Medal', as a
likeness of General Pershing appears on the front.  Due to the late date of authorization, this ribbon is
not commonly found on uniforms, as most of the men who earned it had long since left the service.
The original ribbon design had a wavy blue edge, but this was quickly changed to the more commonly
found straight blue edge. 

Mexican Border/Mexican Service Medals

No mention of WW2 service medals would be complete without the pre-WW1 Mexican Service medal
(authorized 1917). This was issued for participation in any of the nine major engagements in Mexico
that took place between 1914 and 1919, or any action against hostile Mexicans in which US troops
were killed or wounded between April 1911 and Feb 1917.  A similar medal was authorized in July
1918 for service on the Mexican border from January 1916 to April 1917, to persons not authorized
the Mexican Service Medal. Many senior Officers and NCO's of WW2 got their first wartime
experience on the Mexican Border, so this is an important ribbon to find on a uniform. Both ribbons
are yellow and green, but the Service Medal ribbon has a blue band in the center. There are a number
of earlier service ribbons authorized in the US Army, but these are rarely found on any WW2 era
uniforms.

WW2 ERA SERVICE MEDALS


The American Defense Medal- authorized 1941

The American Defense medal was awarded to any man in service from 8 September 1939  to   7
December 1941 (Pearl Harbor day). The soldier must have been under orders for active duty of at
least 12 months, part of which must fall between those two dates.  This medal shows that the soldier
was in uniform before the declaration of war, and this medal went a long way to boost the  morale of
the pre-war troops. The time period from Sept 39  to  Dec 41 was known as the "limited emergency",
and included the period when National Guard divisions were called to full time federal service so they
could be thoroughly trained- just in case America eventually entered the war...


There are two Army  appurtances that may be worn on the American Defense Ribbon. A clasp stating
"Foreign Service" is worn on the ribbon hanger by men who were stationed outside the Continental
U.S. (including Alaska)  during this time, or served on planes or ships that made frequent and regular
trips outside the continental limits of the USA. A single bronze star is worn on the ribbon bar to denote
the Foreign Service clasp.

 In place of the Foreign Service clasp the Navy has three different bars: BASE, FLEET, and SEA, as
well as a bronze letter "A". BASE is for service on shore installations, FLEET is for service on high
seas fleets or aircraft squadrons, SEA is for members of Coast Guard ship crews not qualifying for the
FLEET clasp, and the bronze "A" is worn on the ribbon bar by men operating in the Atlantic- where
they were in potential contact with German Naval forces. None of these four Navy appurtanences are
worn by members of the Army.

The American Campaign Medal- authorized November 1942

Awarded for service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  
To qualify one of the following conditions must be met:  one year within the continental limits of the
US, been in active combat against the enemy (submarine patrol, etc.), been permanently assigned as a
member of a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days, been
outside the continental limits of the US as a passenger or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60
non-consecutive days, awarded a combat decoration for action against the enemy in this theater, or on
permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the US, but within the American Theater. 

A single bronze star may be worn on the ribbon for combat service by individuals who were assigned
to units credited with participation in the anti-submarine campaign. No other campaigns are credited
for the American Theater. This is very much a giveaway medal for the Army, as most men spent at
least a year in the USA while being trained and preparing for movement overseas.


EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL- authorized November, 1942

Nicknamed the ETO medal,  it was awarded to soldiers who served in the European-African-Middle
Eastern Theater between the dates of 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945. Soldiers qualify for it
upon  permanent  assignment to a unit in the theater, for temporary duty or passenger status for 30
consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in the theater, or for engaging in active combat. Active combat
means either receiving a combat decoration, or receiving a certificate from the commander of a Corps
or higher that the soldier actually participated in combat. The vast majority of soldiers would earn this
service medal just for being assigned to a unit in the Theater.

A bronze star (3/16")  is worn on the ribbon for each campaign participated in. A silver star  represents
5 campaigns.  The stars should be worn in a horizontal row across the ribbon. A bronze arrowhead
(authorized December 1944)  is worn by men who participated in a combat parachute jump, combat
glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned to an organized force carrying out an
assigned tactical mission (i.e. not OSS spy missions). Only one arrowhead is authorized no matter how
many invasions the soldier may have participated in. The arrowhead is worn on the right hand side of
the ribbon. Silver stars are worn to the wearers right of any bronze stars, and to the left of an
arrowhead.  The stars are worn with one point up, and the arrowhead with the tip pointing up. The
ribbon itself is green with the national colors of the USA, Italy, and Germany. It is properly worn with
the Italian green/white/red to the wearers right. 


ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL- authorized 1942
 Awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 in this Theater. Conditions for
earning this service medal, campaign stars, or an arrowhead are the same as for the European-
African- Middle East Theater ribbon. The ribbon is yellow with the red/white/blue of the USA, and the
red and white colors of Japan. Regulations state that this ribbon is always worn before the ETO
ribbon, even if the wearer served in the ETO before the Pacific. The American Theater ribbon is
always worn before both of them.

WAC MEDAL  authorized 1943
Awarded to women who served in  the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps between 20 July, 1942 and 31
August 1943, and  also served in  the Woman's Army Corps between 1 September 1943 and 2 March
1946. When the W.A.A.C. was made a regular part of the Army in 1943, the WAACs were given the
choice of ending their enlistment and going home or entering the WACs. The majority of them stayed
in and served until the end of the war. By an error in the original regulation wording, women that quit
the WAACs then later re-joined in the WACs were eligible for the medal. The intention had been to
reward those that had volunteered and stayed right through, but all attempts to change the regulation
failed. Any woman joining the WACs for the first time after September 1943 would not be eligible for
this medal. Keep in mind that no man was ever authorized this medal, and no appurtances of any kind
are ever worn on it. The ribbon is green and yellow: the colors of the Woman's Army Corps.


WW2 Victory Medal authorized 6 July, 1945
This medal was awarded to all Service personnel who served at least one day of active duty  any time
between 7 Dec 1941, and 31 Dec 1946. The mutil-colored edges of the ribbon are miniature versions
of the WW1 victory ribbon.


Army of Occupation Medal- authorized 1946
This medal resembles the WW1 Occupation medal. It was awarded for 30 consecutive days at a
normal post of duty while assigned to any of the following:

Army of occupation of Germany: 9 May 45- 5 May 55
Army of occupation of Austria: 9 May 45-27 July 55
Army of occupation of Berlin: 9 May 45- 2 Oct 1990
Army of occupation of Italy: 9 May 45-15 Sept. 47
Army of occupation of Japan: 3 sept. 45-27 April 1952
Army of occupation of Korea: 3 Sept 45-29 June 49.

There are three official appurtenances worn on this ribbon. A clasp denoting either "Germany" or
"Japan", and a small, bronze airplane. The two clasps denote service in either Europe or Asia, and
although other clasps were made, they were never authorized. The airplane, know as the "Berlin Airlift
Device" was authorized for 90 days consecutive service with a unit credited with participation in the
Berlin Airlift between 26 June 48 and 30 Sept 49.  The occupation medal was automatically awarded
to anyone earning the Berlin Airlift device.  The Navy uses larger claps that say  EUROPE or ASIA.
Keep in mind this medal was awarded for Berlin service up to 1990.

Prisoner of War Medal authorized 1985
This medal is not really a  service medal or a decoration, but as it is awarded for time served as a
POW rather than for an individuals actions, the Institute of heraldry considers it more of a service
medal. It is awarded to any U.S. serviceman who was held captive by an enemy of the United States
since April 1917. As it was not manufactured until very recently, this medal would never be original
to a WW2 era uniform, and would have been added  by the veteran or the family. 


DATING MEDALS

There is no good way to date a US campaign medal. The ribbon hangers can be approximately dated
by style of manufacture, but regulations state that both ribbon hangers and ribbon bars must be
changed when the ribbon fabric becomes faded or dirty. Thus an old medal may have a replacement
ribbon hanger on it. This is also true of ribbon bars- an old uniform may have had new ribbon bars put
on it by the original owner who was only following regulations to keep his insignia looking good.

Most modern day medals come with the 'crimped' hanger. This allows for mass production with no
handwork involved.  The 'slotted hanger' was used prior to 1944. It had a slot through the medal that
the ribbon wrapped around before being hand sewn at both corners. From around 1917 to 1944 the
'full -wrap' hanger  with a sold metal bar on the back was used. Before the 'full-wrap' came the 'half-
wrap' hanger with only the sides of the metal bar curving around on the rear. These are only rough
time periods, as many older medals were held in storage and issued at a later time.


"Original Medals"?

The question of originality is a difficult one to answer when it comes to U.S. medals. For many years it
was illegal to sell any US medal (except for the ribbon bar or a miniature medal). This meant that all
medals had to be issued by the government and were therefore "real".  With an immense backlog of
requests for replacement medals from veterans of WW2 , the US Government altered their policy and
made it legal to privately buy and sell all medals except for the Congressional Medal of Honor. This
has opened up the floodgates and medal manufacturers are pumping out thousands of 'real' medals.
This has been of great benefit to the vet who can now purchase his awards at a reasonable cost.
Unfortunately, it has also allowed some "wannabees" to claim they were awarded certain decorations
they were never entitled to.

Currently produced medals are obviously not as valuable as ones made and issued at the time the
award was bestowed. Examination of enough WW2 era medals will allow you a chance of telling new
from old.  Older medals tend to be more detailed ,and rely on better engraving to bring out the
highlights. Modern manufactures often look like they have been coated with a solution to help bring
out the highlights. WW2 veterans receiving replacement medals from the US Government would be
sent the same new manufacture medals as currently available on the open market.

Ribbon Bars


In WW2 the Army traditionally wore 'thin ribbons' (1 3/8 inch long by 3/8 inches high.) and the Navy
(USMC and Coast Guard as well) wore thicker 1/2 inch high ones). This is true for standard issue
insignia, but numerous examples exist of Army personal wearing the larger ribbons. British made
insignia for the Army tend to be of the larger size, and many private purchase ribbon sets can be found
that use the larger size for Army personnel. It appears that Naval personnel greatly preferred their
larger ribbons, since these are almost always  found on their uniforms. After the Korean War the size
of ribbon bars for all services was standardized to the 3/8 inch size.

Ribbon bars can be found made in many different ways. The standard variety is composed of
individual ribbons  fastened to a larger backing plate. This plate was normally attached to the uniform
with a pin, but  in the middle of the WW2  the "clutch back" fastener became very popular. By the end
of the war almost every insignia was using clutch backs since they were vastly simpler to add and
remove from a uniform. Wartime clutch backs did not have the small 'bumps' found on those more
recently made. Clutches wear out eventually so many are likely to have been replaced with newer
replacement clutches. Thus you can not always date a piece just by the removable clutch.  Examples of
ribbon bars hand made from colored thread, or woven as a single piece are of great interest to
collectors. 

Ribbon bars were authorized to be worn only on the service coat or shirt. They were specifically not
authorized for wear with combat or combat exercise uniforms. Most photographs showing GI's in
WW2 wearing ribbons while in combat dress were taken either just as the individual had been given
the award or after hostilities had ended. Men receiving awards for valor during wartime were
frequently given their service ribbons to specifically wear during the ceremony.

Understanding for which campaign medals, ribbons, and appurtenances  were awarded makes  it
possible to determine something of the history of a uniform. If a uniform with a specific unit patch
shows too many battle stars for that unit, the uniform may be faked, or simply it may be that the
original owner transferred into the known unit after serving with another organization (which had seen
more combat). Sometimes the soldiers did not  (knowingly or unknowingly) follow regulations, and
oddities turn up that have no rational explanation. During the war a popular American breakfast cereal
gave out a black and white checked ribbon as a prize. Some soldiers (such as the author's father)
slipped this ribbon onto their uniform as a joke until caught by a senior officer.  


  list of ETO campaigns

Egypt-Libya: 11 June 42 - 12 Feb 43
Air Offensive-Europe: 4 July 42- 5 June 44
Algeria-French Morocco: 8 Nov 42 - 5 June 44
Tunisia:12 Nov 42 - 13 May 43 (air starts 12 Nov 42)
Sicily: 9 July 43- 17 Aug 43 (air starts 14 May 43)
Naples-Foggia: 9 Sept 43 - 21 Jan 44 (air starts 18 Aug 43)
Anzio: 22 Jan 44 - 9 Sept 44
Rome-Arno: 22 Jan 44 - 9 Sept 44
Normandy: 6 June 44 - 25 July 44
Northern France: 25 July 44 - 14 Sept 44
Southern France: 15 Aug 44 - 14 Sept 44
Northern Apennines: 10 Sept 44 - 4 April 44
Rhineland: 15 Sept 44 - 21 Mar 45
Ardennes-Alsace: 16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
Central Europe: 22 Mar 45 - 111 May 45
Po Valley: 5 April  45 - 8 May 45

Note: the Navy, USMC, and Coast Guard used a different set of campaigns which was larger and
more detailed. 

list of ATO campaigns
Philippine Islands: 7 Dec 41-10 May 42
Burma, 1942: 7 De c41-26 May 42
Central Pacific: 7 Dec 41-26 May 42
East Indies: 1 Jan 42-22 July 42
India-Burma: 2 April 42- 28 Jan 45
Air Offensive Japan: 17 April 42-2 Sept 45
Aleutian Islands: 3 June 42- 24 August 43
China Defensive 4 July 42- 4 May 45
Papua: 23 July 42-23 Jan 43
Guadalcanal: 7 August 42- 21 Feb 43
New Guinea: 24 Jan 43- 31 Dec 44
Northern Solomons: 22 Feb 43- 21 Nov 44
Eastern Mandates (Air): 7 Dec 43- 16 April 44
Eastern Mandates (Ground): 31 Jan 44- 14 June 44 
Bismark Archipelago 15 Dec 43 - 27 Nov 44
Western Pacific 15 June 44 - 2 Sept 44 (air starts 17 April 44)
Leyte: 17 Oct 44 - 1 Jult 45
Luzon: 15 Dec 44 - 4 July 45
Central Burma: 19 Jan 45 - 15 July 45
Southern Philippines: 27 Feb 45 - 4 July 45
Ryukyus: 26 March 45 - 2 Feb 45
Chnia Offensive: 5 May 45 - 2 Sept 45 


Philippine Service Medals

The Philippine Islands have been closely tied to America's Military since the islands were taken from
Spain in 1899. The Philippine Government awarding three service ribbons  to recognize American
troops who helped fight for their country against the Japanese in WW2.  Regulations prohibit
American troops from wearing most foreign awards without special permission, but due to the ties the
U.S. has with the Philippines a special agreement was reached so that U.S. troops would be officially 
allowed to wear these three WW2 Philippine service ribbons. Although originally intended to be worn
only as ribbon bars, the actual medals could have been privately purchased by veterans.


The Philippine Defense Medal  authorized 1948
     Awarded for service in the defense of the Philippines from 8 December 1941, to 15 June 1942. 
To be awarded this medal the individual must either have served on the Philippines or in Philippine
waters for 30 days during the indicated period, or had participated in an engagement. Participation in
an engagement was described as:  being a member of the Bataan Defense Garrison, or of the fortified
islands in Manila Bay, being a member of a unit under enemy fire, or being a passenger or serving on
a ship or airplane that had been under enemy fire. If an individual had served both 30 days in the
Philippines and taken part in an engagement, they were authorized to wear a single bronze star on the
ribbon.

The Philippine Liberation Medal  authorized  1948
     Awarded for service in Liberating the Philippines from the Japanese from 17 Oct 1944 to 3
Sept 1945.  There are four conditions for which this medal could be awarded. Participation in more
than one was recognized by a bronze star. The first was participation in the initial landings on Leyte or
the adjoining islands from  17 Oct 1944, to 20 Oct 1944. The other conditions are: participation in 
any engagement on Leyte or the adjoining islands, participation in any engagement on Philippine
islands other than those mentioned above, and serving in the Philippine islands or on ships in
Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period indicated.

The Philippine Independence Medalauthorized 1948

This medal was authorized to any individual that had earned both the Philippine Defense and
Liberation Medals. It was originally to have been authorized to any serviceman on duty in the
Philippines on 4 July 1946: the date of Philippine Independence.



Photographs in the original article- Militaria/UK #23 (oop) and Militaria/ French #125
1.  left. Reverse of WW1 Victory medal awarded by city of Lake Forest Illinois. The ribbon hanger is
of the slotted type. Far right: WW1 Occupation medal commonly known as the 'Perching Medal'.
Center top to bottom: Ribbon for Mexican Border , Ribbon for Mexican Service, unauthorized WW1
Victory bar for 'Cantigny', A French special ribbon for wounded discovered on a WW1 U.S. uniform
(unauthorized, but worn by the soldier because he had probably been told since he was wounded in
France it was OK to wear), the reverse of a WW1 victory ribbon bar showing the hand stitching used.

2. The new Prisoner of War medal authorized to any US Serviceman who spent time as a POW since
WW1. This medal was only issued starting in 1985, so it would never be found in an original WW2
uniform or ribbon bar set. 

3. The four major campaigns of WW2 are (L-R)  American Campaign, American Defense (with
foreign service bar below), European- African- Middle eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal.

4. The three different hanger types : L-R full wrap (WW1 Victory), slotted (WW2 Victory)- note the
hand stitching at the bottom edges just under the pin, and Crimp (WW2 Victory)- the ribbon has been
crimped around the metal bar holding the pin.

5. Label from the standard WW2 Victory Medal box

6. (7&8 are variations of the same)  Ribbon Bars.  top to bottom:
hand sewn ribbon sections used as a ribbon bar, one version of a pin back single ribbon bar back,
a single ribbon bar back used to hold two ribbons, a single clutch back and single pinback ribbon bar ,
larger sized British made double bar with oversized British style star, reverse ribbons showing the
typical type of pin used on British made ribbons. Double ribbon clutch back, triple ribbon pin back,
and Navy sized triple ribbon.
Also on the upper right edge are different examples of some of the styles of clutches used. 

#9 and 10 the three Philippine campaign medals (front and back - the back view is not very important,
but I sent it anyway).  L-R Philippine Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and Philippine
Independence Medal .

#11   The major Army Campaign medals issued since
WW2 were for  (L-R) Korea, Viet Nam, and South West Aisa (Desert Storm)

wartime portraits

This wartime portrait of father and son show Brigadier General William  Arnold (Chief of Chaplains)
wearing a wide variety of service ribbons. On top he wears the Legion of Merit ribbon for superior
(non-combat) service. Below it are the  WW1 Victory, American Defense, ATO ribbon with four
battle stars, American theater, WW2 Victory and Philippine Liberation ribbon with two stars. His son,
an infantry lieutenant serving in the CBI, wears the bronze star, Army commendation, American
theater, ATO with one star, WW2 victory, and a green and white ribbon which appears to be a British
Distinguished Service Cross. Even though the DSC is more important to any of the other ribbons, it is
worn last as it is a foreign decoration. Special permission must be obtained from the US Army before
he would be able to wear it.  It is interesting to note the General wears his ribbons out of order: the
correct order for WW2 Campaign ribbons is American Defense, American campaign, ATO, then
ETO.   


B. Some men just don't need to wear ribbons. General 'Vinegar Joe' Stillwell seems to feel quite
comfortable without any insignia except his stars. Stillwell was a popular General in charge of the
China Burma India Theater, and was known for his caustic wit- and lack of diplomacy. Obviously he
felt he was making some sort of statement by not wearing his ribbons for this official portrait.  

C. This photo of Brigadier General James Weare shows a number of older ribbons. At the top is the
distinguished service cross, followed by the silver star, an 1899-1906 Philippine campaign, Mexican
border, WW1 Victory, American Defense with one star, ATO with three stars and the Philippine
Defense ribbon. the service stripes on his left sleeve indicate 3 and a half years of overseas wartime
service. 

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