r/Medals

Hi! So I’ve been doing some digging into my great-grandfather’s military career. I never got to meet him unfortunately. I know he enlisted when he was 17. He retired in 1971 as a First Sergeant. He was in the Marines. He was in WW2, the Korean War and two tours in Vietnam. I was looking through boxes of his things the other day that my nana has, and I found all of these ribbons. Plus the medals. My nana needs to fix the one that fell, haha. Can anyone help me out please with identifying the ribbons? I can’t really find anything online about him in terms of public records. I did find him on some muster rolls though. I also submitted a request for his full records but I’ve heard it can take a while. 😅 His last name was Hoover. Thank you!

A couple things that were in his obituary: “He was a very personal man and didn't like to have anyone trying to "poke around." Despite his being member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for many years, documents listing his medals and commendations were not on file. Chet T, PW Commander, said that Hoover might have something to do with its disappearance. "He was commander for a while. He might just have destroyed it. He would have had access to it."”

Another friend who served with him said this as well: “During the battle for Iwo Jima, two flags were raised. Hoover was there for both. On Mount Suribachi he received two wounds. First he was wounded and was being carried off of Suribachi and while still on the stretcher he was wounded a second time.” (He didn’t help raise the flags but he was there and saw both get raised.)

I don’t know if he actually would have been able to destroy any of his records. I don’t know how any of that works or if it would have been a simple thing for him to do. PSA sorry great-grandpa for “poking around” 😂 I wish I could have met you. Anyway, if you read all of this, thank you again!

My grandfather on top for Korea, 187th infantry, His brother below ww2, 101st. These are old original ribbons my grandfather had hidden in his korea memorabilia, I let my uncle and cousins have what they wanted first so this isn’t everything and I took no full size awards. The other family members don’t really know what this stuff means but I just can’t believe how bad ass these guys were while never telling a story about it.

My great uncle in the European theater with 5 campaign stars, presidential citation for Normandy or the Bulge(he was at both, maybe received 2). I dont know what the sun is for. They share the medals in between the ribbons, combat jumps, 2 Purple Hearts each(as far as i know), infantry combat badge,

My grandfather in Korea, they were the rakkasans and maybe even crossed over into the 8240th covert unit. It has been so hard to get all the info from his tour, he was over there for the entire war. 3 campaign stars, 1 for the Punchbowl and 1 for heartbreak ridge, he received a bronze star for valor in the Punchbowl. We think he has 2 more bronze star awards but they wont tell us for what, I didn’t get his bronze star ribbon medal unfortunately. An interesting mini is the distinguished flying cross, I dont know for what and I understand very rare for a paratrooper to receive. Any idea why his campaign stars are on the UN ribbon?

When Korea started happening he dropped out of University(gave up a football scholarship) to enlist because his brother was such a legend. Love them, massive respect to be such distinguished warriors and never have to blab about it.

I never wrote down what dad said all these were for. I’m going to dig through his DD214 for citations but my kids are asking about them and I hate not knowing what each one means. FWIW Dad wrote two books about his time in Vietnam but he never dove into his rack, his stories were always about his brothers in the marines.

Edit: to not break rule 4

Also for those asking, LtCol Alex Lee and his books were “Force Recon Command” and “Utter’s Battalion”

I’ve always been curious. He didn’t talk much about his time but he did say he did 3 tours. These are screen shots from a video I took years ago.

Edit: I thank and appcrieate all the condolences. I made a mistake including personal info, wasn’t mine to give away. Just trying to find more out about my buddy.

My late father was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces who just missed WWII, served in Korea and ended time in the Navy. I know the red and white one but do not know the rest.

Like many men he didn’t talk much about his time in service and when he did he tended to minimize his days. Any assistance is appreciated in advance.

Picture i took around easter. How hardcore was he? I only recognize a small few of these medals and i am no enthusiast

Fought in vietnam, wounded twice, first was shrapnel from some blast to the belly, not sure what the other was for. Thats all i know about aside from the standard service stuff and the rifleman and pistol doodads

So my cousin did like 10 ish years in the army and he recently unfortunately took his own life... we used to be super close as kids/teens but now its... like a piece of me is gone... but i found these in his nightstand drawer

Started off as a rigger at 7th SFG (A) the reclassed to infantry last year. MFF was by far the highlight of my career and the best part of being a rigger in my opinion

Could’ve done so much more.

Moved into a house recently and found these. I recognize the purple heart but lost on the others.

My grandfather was a Seabee in Europe in WWII. And his brother was in the army air corps in the pacific. I found this assortment of ribbons in my father’s closest. I’m sure it’s a mix of the two bothers. Just wondering what they mean. Thanks.

I was looking at pictures from a Civil Air Patrol Gala and I noticed my region commander wearing some kind of neck order which I assume is foreign but I'd very much appreciate help IDing it.

Australian Army Chaplains Department, posted to 4th Infantry Battalion, 1st AIF and served in Gallipoli and France from 1915 to 1917 during WW1.

In theory the MQ would stand for Mayer & Quenzer of Idar-Oberstein and is a rare hallmark. But I can’t find anything online about it. Anyone familiar with this?

Great great great grandad. John Edwin Gallagher

I have a question on where I could go to get some ribbons cleaned, they are my grandfathers and they are smoke damaged and too faded to identify. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I’ve posted before to ID them but I lost access to that account, so I am just adding the picture onto it. Also he was in the Army during WW2-Korea

Found this labeled as a copy Pour Le Merite on an auction last month. I took a chance with a low ball bid and won. is a copy, but I think it's a Steinhauer and Luck piece from the '60s - very collectible. Other opinions?