Can someone tell me what all the medal ribbons signify on US Servicemans uniforms. ? I've yet to see someone with none. Are they all for Bravery awards, operations, and Long Service, Good Conduct, such as the criteria in the British Armed Forces, or are they for something else. ? When wearing the full size medals, which I presume do go with the ribbons, how on earth do they manage to fit them all on the bars. ? They would have rows and rows of them. I only got two, South Arabia, and Malaya, and in my day, other than 2nd War medals, it was two for the Korean War, or a General Service Medal with relevant Bars. Of course I haven't mentioned the Coronation Medal, BEM, and Gallantry Awards, that some were presented with. I ask, because I have just seen the American Whistleblower Bradley Manning, being led from court, and he appears to have three rows of ribbons on his left breast. He must have been up to his neck in muck and bullets.

Try
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_military

Thank you for that Microsoft very enlightening. Seems to me that if Britain had their system, every member of our armed forces would have a couple of rows at least, without even having to leave Dear Old England's Shores. Talk about Bull---t.

Even more BS is the handling of awards. What during WW2 and Korea were significant awards for bravery (bronze stars) are now "end of tour" awards and in some outfits are normal for departing soldiers. I had five "ARCOMS" (Army Commendation Medal) that are supposed to be awarded for efficiency or above normal duty execution and so far as I could tell I got them for showing up for work. Of course this varies from organization to organization and commander to commander but the phenomenon exists. When we get to the senior officer ranks (or even mid grade), the granted awards are even more valuable but just given to round out the promotion packet. This is all well and good but when someone gets a Silver Star just for being in theater, it cheapens the awards given to those who earn them under fire. Speaking of which, have to be pretty salty to get any kind of award. Or so it seems from my retired armchair.

Steve, The mind boggles at all of this. At one end of the scale you have all these Christmas Tree Awards, and here in the UK our Honours and Decorations Commitee, who are politicians, and most have never spent one day in the Armed Forces, make sure that we only get the minimum of recognition. It's always Cost to the Public Purse, that is the excuse given. A campaigne has been running for years for an Armed Forces Medal to be given, so to bring us in line with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, whose medal the Queen sanctioned. Our politicians are vehmently opposed to this, out of jealousness I think,so we wouldn't hold our breath. Mind you it does give my two a bit of value.

I have a bronze for swimming if that helps

Steve

It does Steve, especially when the bloody ship is sinking.

Is there a ribbon for getting up in the morning and going to bed at night?

Mike

The Good Conduct Medal

I have one of those but some mornings I couldn't get up......and some nights I had better things to do than go to bed, pretty bad conduct really.
Roger.

Personally I have no problem with any serviceman wearing whatever medals, awards and decorations their country deems they deserve. Some coubtries are clearly more generous than others, but this is perhaps taking it to the extreme. I've never seen medals worn on trousers before.

Hi All,
Talking about medal groups
cheers
Richie

Not so much a medal group as body armour