# Service ribbon identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506 "2016-11-11T16:05:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/1 "2016-11-11T16:05:30Z")
Can anyone identify the service ribbons [my dad](https://www.flickr.com/photos/27492458@N05/2577222254/in/dateposted-public/) is wearing? (Sorry it’s in B&W.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/2 "2016-11-11T17:02:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Can anyone identify the service ribbons [my dad](https://www.flickr.com/photos/27492458@N05/2577222254/in/dateposted-public/) is wearing? (Sorry it’s in B&W.) The one on the bottom right looks like the [Korean Presidential Unit Citation](http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item--i-R828S?zmam=34503300&zmas=1&zmac=7&zmap=R828S&gclid=Cj0KEQiA9ZXBBRC29cPdu7yuvrQBEiQAhyQZ9BHKyMxDzK25AawUbjgGcd6A-Lspib44Dyc8b5WPfjMaAg8V8P8HAQ). Bottom left may be the United Nations Service Medal. Bottom middle looks like a Pistol Marksman Ribbon. Problem is, the bottom row looks to be out of proper order, so it’s hard to tell. It should be the Korea, then the UN, then the Pistol. I’d say that the middle of the second row up is the National Defense Medal, which is awarded to anyone serving during wartime. Knock on the door. More later. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/3 "2016-11-11T17:12:36Z")
Nearly impossible to do in black and white. I concur with the Korean Medak and National Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/4 "2016-11-11T17:20:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Bottom left may be the United Nations Service Medal. I think you’re right. As I recall, it’s light blue and white. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Bottom middle looks like a Pistol Marksman Ribbon. Problem is, the bottom row looks to be out of proper order, so it’s hard to tell. It should be the Korea, then the UN, then the Pistol. I remember dad saying he was on a Navy pistol team. As for the order, he apparently didn’t get in trouble for it. 😉 > [@Chefguy](#): > > I’d say that the middle of the second row up is the National Defense Medal, which is awarded to anyone serving during wartime. Looking up an [image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg/1000px-National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg.png), that looks right. IIRC, the one in the upper-right is maroon, with two bronze-coloured stars. I think that’s a Good Conduct medal. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/5 "2016-11-11T17:33:09Z")
What were his years of service? The second row looks like the American Campaign Medal, the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. The first medal on the third row looks like the Navy Occupation Service Medal. The first row, I dunno. Maybe Navy Commendation Medal for the first one? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/6 "2016-11-11T17:35:25Z")
Yeah, that looks like the Good Conduct Ribbon. The second row from the top, the far left might be the Armed Forces Expeditionary. Top middle or top left might be a Meritorious Service Medal. Like **Loach** said, without seeing the colors, it’s really difficult to tell. I’m going by precedence order according to [this chart](http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/Pages/NavyAwardsPrecedenceChart.aspx), the width of the stripes, my own experience as career Navy, and assuming that the ribbons are in order. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/7 "2016-11-11T17:40:29Z")
> [@UncaStuart](#): > > What were his years of service? He was in the Army for two years before he was in the Navy. He may have joined in 1945. He would have been 18 that October. He must have enlisted in the Navy in 1948, as he retired after 20 years in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/8 "2016-11-11T18:11:55Z")
Ah, the Army and the dates. That explains one of the ribbons that I couldn’t identify. The first ribbon in the second row from the bottom is most likely the [Army of Occupation Medal.](http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15301&CategoryId=4&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0). I think the one on the other end of that row is the Korean Service Medal. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/9 "2016-11-11T18:20:44Z")
Quite the man having served in two branches of the service in separate wars. I commend your dad for his service to our country. Salute! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/10 "2016-11-11T18:25:21Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Quite the man having served in two branches of the service in separate wars. Well, he heard the Navy had better food. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/11 "2016-11-11T21:31:02Z")
Hey, if you can find his DD214, that will have all of his awards listed on it. I’m assuming that he is deceased, so if it’s not in his papers, you could probably, as a surviving son, order a copy from the government. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/12 "2016-11-11T21:52:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Hey, if you can find his DD214, that will have all of his awards listed on it. I’m assuming that he is deceased, so if it’s not in his papers, you could probably, as a surviving son, order a copy from the government. I thought of that, but I don’t think I have a copy of his death certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/13 "2016-11-11T22:21:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I thought of that, but I don’t think I have a copy of his death certificate. You should be able to obtain that from whichever state he died in; there may be a fee for it. Check [this website](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records) for obtaining his service record. ---
**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/14 "2016-11-12T07:53:33Z")
[http://www.medalsofamerica.com/content–name-Army-Medals-and-Ribbons-Chart](http://www.medalsofamerica.com/content--name-Army-Medals-and-Ribbons-Charthttp://) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/15 "2016-11-12T16:26:38Z")
> [@Jimpy](#): > > [http://www.medalsofamerica.com/content–name-Army-Medals-and-Ribbons-Chart](http://www.medalsofamerica.com/content--name-Army-Medals-and-Ribbons-Charthttp://) There are better websites than that, and it’s also not the problem. See above. ---
**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-ribbon-identification/771506/16 "2016-11-12T18:35:30Z")
When I was looking over my father’s Marine Corp ribbons, when he was still alive, there were two I couldn’t identify. So I asked him, and one was from the South Korean government and the other was an Army unit citation. Both came from his early days in the Corps as one of the original members of HMX-1 and their rescue of the Korean government, army and others in the Korean War in Seoul. I had the advantage that I was looking at the actual ribbons. Eventually I did find a web site, that I since lost, that listed all the ribbons, even discontinued and foreign ones. When my father died, we had him dressed in uniform for the funeral and I found his DD-14 and I discovered that he was awarded more ribbons and devices than he ever wore. the DD-14 is your best bet. It is possible to get a copy as long as the records weren’t destroyed in the [1973 fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Personnel_Records_Center_firel)