# Military Officers Uniform Breast Patches (Fruit Salad) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230 "2008-12-08T12:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/1 "2008-12-08T12:09:17Z")
On Military Officers Uniforms, what are the colorfull rectangular patches (Fruit Salad) representing, what’s the meaning and where did they origin? ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/2 "2008-12-08T12:36:46Z")
Do you mean these? > **[Medal ribbon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_bar)** > > A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each country's government has its own rules on what ribbons can be worn in what circumstances and in which order. This is usually defined in an official document and is called "the order of precedence" or "the order of wearing." In some countries (particularly Ac... ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/3 "2008-12-08T14:17:33Z")
> [@Simple\_Mind](#): > > On Military Officers Uniforms, what are the colorfull rectangular patches (Fruit Salad) representing, what’s the meaning and where did they origin? As **Henrichek** noted, they are called “ribbons.” Some represent medals awarded to servicemembers so that a servicemember could be recognized for a particular award without having to wear the actual medal all of the time. Other ribbons do not stand for a medal; typical of these are unit service awards, such as the U.S. Navy Sea Service Ribbon. Also, they are not patches, and are awarded to all servicemembers, not just officers. Finally, nobody calls them a “fruit salad” outside of Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/4 "2008-12-08T14:23:46Z")
[Here’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Peter_Pace_in_dress_uniform_2005.jpg) a pic of what it would look like if they didn’t give us the ribbon bar - can you imagine having to wear that rack on the left breast the entire time you’re in any kind of working uniform? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/5 "2008-12-08T14:40:59Z")
> [@critter42](#): > > [Here’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Peter_Pace_in_dress_uniform_2005.jpg) a pic of what it would look like if they didn’t give us the ribbon bar - can you imagine having to wear that rack on the left breast the entire time you’re in any kind of working uniform? Not bad, but you really need an [insane dictator](http://www.kazoongas.com/paulo_biendo/it/idi_amin_dada_1.jpg) to get a truly ridiculous chest of medals. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/6 "2008-12-08T15:20:35Z")
> [@critter42](#): > > [Here’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Peter_Pace_in_dress_uniform_2005.jpg) a pic of what it would look like if they didn’t give us the ribbon bar - can you imagine having to wear that rack on the left breast the entire time you’re in any kind of working uniform? In this case, is he only showing the ribbons on the bars for which he does not have an actual medal? (as explained above with regards to awards) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/7 "2008-12-08T15:26:34Z")
Is there a picture of someone just wearing the ribbon bar? ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/8 "2008-12-08T15:43:24Z")
> [@Simple\_Mind](#): > > On Military Officers Uniforms, what are the colorfull rectangular patches (Fruit Salad) representing, what’s the meaning and where did they origin? Can’t speak to the American services, but in the British/Commonwealth services, ribbons began to be worn on uniform sometime around the 1880s (the full-sized medals would still be worn on special occasions, dress parades, etc.), as more practical than having 5 or 6 large silver coins jumping about on your tunic. Victorian campaign medals (and the British had a lot of these!) don’t seem to have had any symbolism to the colours chosen for the ribbon; this seems to have changed during WWI, when the inter-Allied Victory Medal of 1919 had a ribbon showing the rainbow (in hopes that this type of war would never happen again). In WW2, the 1939-45 Star (issued to pretty much everybody) had a ribbon of navy blue/red/sky blue, to represent the three services; likewise the Italian Star was red, white and green, the Africa Star a sandy yellow (with navy blue, red and light blue stipes). There is a difference in medals (generally given for “service,” i.e. being somewhere or long service), decorations or gallantry medals (awards for bravery or exemplary service) and orders (appointed by the crown for various types of service to the nation, and includes the orders of chivalry to create a Knight, for example). [British order, decoration and medal ribbons.](http://www.worldmedals.co.uk/Rib/Britrib/britribb.htm) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/9 "2008-12-08T15:55:51Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Is there a picture of someone just wearing the ribbon bar? [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Michael_Mullen,_CJCS,_official_photo_portrait,_2007.jpg) is a picture of Adm. Michael Mullen, the current JCS chairman. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/10 "2008-12-08T15:58:46Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > In this case, is he only showing the ribbons on the bars for which he does not have an actual medal? (as explained above with regards to awards) Yes. When only ribbons are worn, they are worn on the left side of the chest. In full dress uniforms, when full-sized medals are worn, the medals are worn on the left side of the chest. Ribbons for which there are no equivalent medals are then worn on the right side of the chest. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/11 "2008-12-08T16:26:58Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Finally, nobody calls them a “fruit salad” outside of Hollywood. I could be wrong, but I believe my mother has referred to them as such, and her father was a brigadier general. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/12 "2008-12-08T19:51:56Z")
> **[Military awards and decorations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_decoration)** > > Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. > Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although some orders of chivalry have civil and military divisions. Decorations received by police and fire brigade personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations, on... > **[Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_awards_of_the_united_states)** > > This list of Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, denotes the various service ribbons, and badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career. > The precedence of particular awards will vary slightly among the different branches of service. All awards and decorations may be awarded to any service member unless otherwise designated by... Each branch of the service regulates their uniforms (and the medals & ribbons that appear on them). For example, the US Navy: [http://www.mediacen.navy.mil/pubs/allhands/jan00/pg27.htm](http://www.mediacen.navy.mil/pubs/allhands/jan00/pg27.htm) * * * You can were the ribbon that “represents” your medal in regular working (office) uniform. Usually, the actual medals themselves are only worn to important official ceremonies (Change of Command, Promotion or Awards Ceremonies, Retirement Ceremonies, formal Dinner/Balls, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/13 "2008-12-08T20:26:36Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Is there a picture of someone just wearing the ribbon bar? Not of a person, but of a [blank ribbon bar](http://www.gr8gear.com/catalog/index.php?products_id=2091). I got out of boot camp in June and have 2 ribbons. They make ribbon bars to hold as little as one ribbon. Everyone graduates boot camp (at least in the Coast Guard) with the [National Defense Service Medal](http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/natdef.shtml) and [Pistol Marksmanship](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marksmanship_Ribbon). They also have little letter pins you can add to show your level of marksmanship. They have other [ribbon devices](http://www.uscg.mil/uniform/RibbonsMounts.asp) (scroll halfway down the page) that are added to the ribbon/medal. Aside from the marksmanship one, I honestly couldn’t tell you what some of them are for. Like some ribbons are framed with gold, some have different colored stars. I assumed the stars represent the number of times someone has achieved a particular recognition and been awarded for it. Please someone let me know if this is true or not. A few others get the [honor graduate medal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Training_Honor_Graduate_Ribbon). ETA: What mlees linked to. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/14 "2008-12-08T20:29:46Z")
Cool, thanks, all, that does look classier. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/15 "2008-12-08T21:16:09Z")
Actually, I should rephrase. Everyone graduates (Coast Guard) basic with the National Defense Service Medal. If you _qualify_ as a marksman in basic, you get the pistol marksmanship medal/ribbon and an “S” for sharpshooter or an “E” for expert if you reach that level of marksmanship. I assume the same goes for rifles in other branches. USCG doesn’t train you on the rifle, just a .9 mm. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/16 "2008-12-08T21:22:41Z")
> [@SharkB8](#): > > Like some ribbons are framed with gold, some have different colored stars. I assumed the stars represent the number of times someone has achieved a particular recognition and been awarded for it. Please someone let me know if this is true or not. Yes, for most of the stars. If you read the little captions below them, in your fourth link, it actually says “-Additional service award” (for a repeat award) or “-(5) additional unit awards”. 🙂 The Navy has a silver “E” to be worn on the “Battle Efficiency” (a unit award) ribbon. But I see it can also be used to denote “expert” marksmanship, on the appropriate ribbon. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/17 "2008-12-08T21:25:58Z")
> [@SharkB8](#): > > Actually, I should rephrase. Everyone graduates (Coast Guard) basic with the National Defense Service Medal. The National Defense Medal was reinsituted for Desert Shield (Gulf War 1). > **[National Defense Service Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Service_Medal)** > > The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It was awarded to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during any one of four specified periods of armed conflict or national emergency from June 27, 1950 through December 31, 2022. Combat or "in theater" service is not a requirement for the award. > The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was first intended to be a "blanket campai... I did not get it for my service. (1983-1989) 😭 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/18 "2008-12-08T21:30:18Z")
**Simple Mind** , if you ever see someone in uniform with a single ribbon worn above all the rest, a little blue bar with white stars on it…buy them a drink. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/19 "2008-12-08T21:51:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Simple Mind** , if you ever see someone in uniform with a single ribbon worn above all the rest, a little blue bar with white stars on it…buy them a drink. I don’t know accurate or updated it is but this [site](http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/wall/2living.html) says that there are only 99 left and over half of those remaining are 70+ years of age. But if anyone ever deserved a drink, it’s these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230/20 "2008-12-09T12:52:56Z")
Thanks for all the information, realy a great Message Board/Site… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-officers-uniform-breast-patches-fruit-salad/476230.md?page=2)