Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

I realize that this isn't a bird, but I wanted to reach as many people as I could. My father served in the Navy in WWII and was awarded a medal to which this ribbon belongs. My brother has the medal and when my dad died, he was very set on getting it. He and I are not on speaking terms, otherwise I'd ask him what the medal was awarded for. I've looked at all the Navy medals that were awarded for service during the war, as well as medals that were awarded by other countries where he served, but I've had no luck finding out what the medal was. Can any of you identify it for me?

(Download)

Say Cheese Loc: Eastern PA

I am not up on what they all mean but you have 3 different ribbons there on one bar. The one on the left is the WWII Victory Metal Ribbon.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

If no one can answer it here then go to the nearest American Legion hall and I'm positive that someone can identify them for you!

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I believe the image is depicted as upside-down... which doesn't matter for ID purposes, except for the middle ribbon-

Middle- Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal - WWII- w/ 4 campaign stars- is upside down... the only one not accurate when inverted- that is, it's not a color palindrome.

Right- American Campaign Medal Ribbon - but the yellow color is wrong - that is, it is "yellow" where it should be red- perhaps the red faded... or it's not the ACM after all...

Criteria: The American Campaign Medal - WW II (ACM) is granted to personnel who served one year of consecutive duty between December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946 and within the continental boarders of the U.S., as well as to those who served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside the borders of the U.S. but within the American Theater of Operations. The American Theater encompasses all of the U.S., most of the Atlantic Ocean, a portion of Alaska, and a small section of the Pacific bordering California and Baja California. The ACM was first created on November 6, 1942 and was originally issued as the "American Theater Ribbon" for those who served in the American Theater of Operations during World War II.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Google U.S medals, ribbons and military awards.

rv8striker Loc: St. Louis, MO area

I did a quick google search and found that the middle one (there are three) is the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. The significance of the stars is explained in the link below. Quite and honor to get one Bronze Star let alone four of them. Your father was a war hero in my opinion.

https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/The-difference-between-a-Bronze-Star-and-a-Bronze-12657705.php

The first is WW II Victory Medal but the third I could not find. Good advice to seek information from a local American Legion Hall.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Appears to be correct.

The one in the middle is the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, but don't know the significance of the 4 stars.

I can't find the one on the right.

OK, I see someone smarter than me provided a link that explained the stars. I thought it might be something to do with specific service terms or campaigns. My father had an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters. Each stood for 5 missions. He had a total of 18 missions flying in a B-29 "over the hump" (Himalayas) into China. He was in the gun turret on top just in front of the tail. Two more missions would have gotten him the Distinguished Flying Cross...or so he said.

Thorburn Loc: Virginia

Separate the ribbons make individual photos and send to the individual branch of service he was in. Like the Bureaual of Naval Personal.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

The Bronze Star Medal itself, for valor or meritorious service is not the same as the tiny bronze stars on this ribbon. Many of us have these tiny stars on ribbons to signify another like medal. But this ribbon does not look the same as a Bronze Star I am familiar with.

Dennis

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I agree. I have a bronze star on my Vietnam Service medal, but I am not a Bronze Star recipient.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I'm still searching for the mystery ribbon on the right, because it is interesting to say the least.

As for the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (middle), it was awarded to him five (5) times. Campaign medals are usually initially awarded for service within a theater of operations, which means embarked on a vessel, stationed on a land base, or XX flights in XX consecutive days within an area. Each subsequent for this award would be for specific operations within that theater.

You can find specific operations for the award here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/BattleStars.html#partIII

In order to find out which operations he was part of, you need a copy of his DD-214. If you do not have his DD-214, the National Archives is a good place to start, but probably not the only resource online these days:
https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Thanks. Great idea.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Thanks for your response. Very helpful.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Thanks for the response.

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Thanks. Great idea.