My uncle just gave me my grandfathers WWII medals and uniform pins. What a great day! Opening an old little soap tin from the late 40's and unpacking for the first time in years, I was in AWE ! Now to research and find out what they represent. Thank God for all the brave men and women of the greatest generation !!!!!!!
That sounds like a neat find. Would you happened to have a photo to share of the medals? I'm sure many here, myself included, would love to see them. Thanks.
Indeed, the video worked great. Based upon the insignia, it looks like he may have been in the 5th Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Red Devils" and "Red Diamond". Thanks for the share.
Badges, ribbons, and medals wise, I see, as you take them out, a National Defense Ribbon (more on that later), a combined Good Conduct (the red with the white stripes) and the European-African-Mediterranean Campaign Ribbon bar, the Combat Infantry Badge, a separate Good Conduct ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and an Infantry branch insignia. The EAM campaign ribbon looks to have at least four star devices, each indicating an additional named campaign. The CBI, presuming it was earned in WW2 means your grandfather is/was also eligible for the Bronze Star Medal . . . not particularly unusual not to see it with the grouping, the decision to make the award, I believe, was not made until very late in the game, or even after the war. Many veterans mustered out before receiving the additional award and, apparently, most did not follow up to get their medal . . . if they even knew about it. And this is where it might seem things are a bit odd. The NDR was not created and authorized until 1953. Its presence means either your grandfather was in the active service at that time – in which case he should have already received his BSM to go along with is CIB. Otherwise, and the simplest explanation is usually the most likely, someone, at some point either gave him a loose NDR or someone else in the family serving between 1953 and today (except for a brief period in the 1980’s) tossed in the tin. Infantry branch insignia such as you have were worn on the lapels of the class A blouse or jacket or on the color of class B shirt, in both cases on the right side, with a US on the left. Good Conduct Medal/Ribbon is exactly what it sounds like.
