r/Medals

38 years in the National Guard. 3 combat deployments. 14 countries. Still look forward to each day I serve!

Major Kelly was killed in action in July 1964, during a dustoff mission in Vietnam. He was warned out of a hot landing zone, but was shot and killed after insisting he would only leave "When I have your wounded."

Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. His dedication to the job was attributed to his experiences as an enlisted infantryman in WWII, where he was badly wounded by German shellfire and spent months recovering in hospital.

His successor, Captain Patrick Brady, would follow his example, saying after Kelly's death "we are going to keep flying exactly the way Kelly taught us to fly, without hesitation, anytime, anywhere." Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968.

Should be my last set retiring in Nov. 20 years active, 24 years total.

This is my little contribution to my 4 years of service. Anyways, I’m just trying to see if people can post their home made shadow boxes to get ideas on what to add. I know some people prefer to send their stuff in to have it professionally made. I’m trying to do it myself to give me something fun to do. I’ve seen some guys on here getting super creative. It’s awesome! Thanks guys! I’ll post my finished shadow box when I get it done!

Original post was removed, so I took an actual picture. 10 years down, 10 more to go.

Can someone verify what all these medals and ribbons are I know most of the ones on the top but the ribbon bar on the bottom I’m not so sure. The top bar is all from my great grandfather in ww1 and the bottom ribbon bar is a mix of ww2 and ww1 ribbons between my great uncle (ww2) and my great grandfather (ww1).

My father has been working on a display HIS fathers ww2 service. (305th BG B17 radio operator who finished the war as a POW)

After years of working on it, a health turn has put his project in my hands.. I'd like to finish it for him, and fairly soon.

I've tried to acquire the medals and such that he had yet to bring together.. (replacing one or two bad reproductions while im at it, like that purple heart) and am now waiting on the mail.

There are a few questions I hoped to ask from any who might know, to get as accurate as possible with what i can put together.

Im putting together a board: (main pic is the half I've taken over or since acquired)

1. Does this medal order look correct:

Purple Heart

Air medal (w/ oak)

POW medal

Good Conduct medal

American campaign medal

European (EAME) campaign medal

Ww2 victory Medal

2. The list I took over showed an "air offensive medal".. am I correct that this should be a star added to the EAME? And the medal thats available is a recent/ unofficial thing?

3. The 305th recieved the distinguished unit award twice, the collection i have includes two patches (one shown in pic).. should that actually also be a bar on the rack? Where would that go? Is there an accompanying medal?

4 if im displaying some patches.. is it odd to have army air force AND the 8th army air force patches? (In pic) (i have radio operators patch and group patch inbound)

5 I was going to display the signal corp, caterpillar, and discharge pins together near a B17 part I acquired... (it's the switch to blow the radio before you jump: seemed fitting) but I have two very diff color discharge pins, both in original wrappings.. is one more accurate? (Pic)

6 qualifications: I have aerial gunner, carbine is on the way.. I assume Pistol D is accurate for the 45cal qual?.. does the order matter?

Any clarification is appreciated.

He did four years and did a year long tour to Vietnam for a year. The racks missing a longevity service ribbon and devices on the VCM (two bronze stars) and the AFOUA (Bronze V and a bronze OLC).

Trying to identify this ribbon. Dad was in special forces starting in 1961, most of time was special forces and special assignments. Became G3 18th Airborne Corp in 80's. Never wore personal ribbons on his uniforms. This photo was an official photo in 1967 as a Captain. He was not in Vietnam but was in Central and South America.

I’ve been getting ready to put on the Dress Uniform for a friend’s wedding (post retirement) and have been reflecting on my service quite a bit so I thought I’d share.

Top 3 has changed (only just a bit!) but put on some new bling on the pocket. Very proud of what I've done in the last 9 months since I got to share with you guys the first time!

Anyone have any (other) information about these two medals? ((Figured a bit out so posted updates below) )She and her family were from New York City around the same time in general of these two medals that I found in a box while cleaning up.
Thank you so much!!

I found these in a model train box I picked up from the model store today. Google says they’re Purple Heart and Good Conduct lapel pins. what am I supposed to do with them?

His name was Сергей Гаврилович Дегтярев. I have found a potential person, born in 1925, but I can't find a way forward after that. Bought at a flea market in Stockholm, Sweden.