Uncle Ray's USMC ribbons and chevrons? Thoughts.

Hey guys,

Was over at my mother's house tonight and picked up the wedding photo of my uncle Ray and his bride my aunt Augusta. Married I guess just after WWII.

Uncle Ray is wearing USMC dress blues and the uniform looks beautiful. Can only see the left sleeve of the jacket. He sports two chevrons and four ribbons. What rate might the two chevrons be? And the four ribbons look like this, left to right, white background with one star, next, several thin vertical stripes on a light background, and then another two with white background and a single star in the middle. All thoughts would be appreciated. Sure he handled an '03 in training. Was wounded on Iwo.

Thanks,

Lancebear

He was a USMC Corporal, and the ribbons are unknown to me. The two chevrons should have two crossed rifles beneath them.

Have you seen the USMC caskets? They are absolutely magnificent! They are also $3K!

Jim
Also a Corporal

Hey Burgaw Swampmaster,

Thought you would know something. You can see half of a nice patch on his left shoulder, pretty good detail but not enough to describe it. There was also a something just above the buttons on the sleeve. I concentrated on the ribbons. Will try to scan the photo and send it to you and maybe post it. Nice full body photo. Maybe some period painting here and there but the uniform looks right. Wonder if the star ribbons were for each landing he participated in?

Haven't seen the caskets, but sure O won't pay for them, but maybe he'll pay the monthly note on the houses for the widows.

Robert , master of the Peaceshack.

Here is a link to USMC WW2 medals with some pretty good pictures, maybe you can find it here.

Worldwide Military LLC: Medals & Decorations

JIM,

WW2 CHEVRONS did not have crossed rifle under them, they came

later late 50s or early 60s.

P-5

You can find the significance of ribbon attachments like bronze arrowhead (amphib landing), oak leaf clusters, silver/bronze stars etc. here as well...
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/ful...bf9d640bd6a836

The crossed rifles came in in the early 60s. My senior DI in Parris Island was an E-5 Staff Sgt (three stripes, one rocker, no crossed rifles) and half way through our training cycle (about May 1963) he got bumped up to E-6 Staff Sgt and got his crossed rifles.

Gads I'm old :yikes:

Art

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snell

The crossed rifles came in in the early 60s. My senior DI in Parris Island was an E-5 Staff Sgt (three stripes, one rocker, no crossed rifles) and half way through our training cycle (about May 1963) he got bumped up to E-6 Staff Sgt and got his crossed rifles.

Gads I'm old :yikes:

Art

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When I was in, a Staff Sergeant was an E-6.:thup: When was the rank of Lance Corporal instituted (E-3)?:dunno:

Jim

James G. Thompson put out a great book called the "Complete Guide to USMC Medals, Badges and Insigna WWII to Present". All color plates shown and you might also find some info on usmedals.com
Need more of an exact description as the colors of the ribbons are quite definite. Most likely includes a Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal for service in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
Bob

By the time I got out of boot and ITR and had enough sense to stop and look around there were no ranks without the crossed rifles. I would guess that the L/Cpl rank appeared sometime in late 62 or early 63.
I can remember the pressure to keep the platoon squared away so that our SDI would keep his staff privilages. When he walked into the squad bay with his new stripes(and crossed rifles) you could hear the entire platoon sigh LOL

Of course, about the same time, we also had to strip our leather gear down and redye it from brown to black and redo the spit shine on the boots, (some guys had one set boots & one set boondockers), dress shoes and barracks covers. What a treat that was!!

We even had a couple of guys issued heringbone utilities...I really am old !!
:rofl:

Hey Mike,

The photo is black and white. I think the striped ribbon is the Asia-Pacific theater one. The other three might be arrowheads on plain I'm guessing white ribbons. I looked at all of the medals and ribbons on the net but didn't find anything about how the arrowheads might have been worn.

Thanks,

LB

I really am old !!

No, no. I prefer "Well seasoned". :cheers:

An arrowhead on a campaign ribbon signified actual participation in a combat amphibious landing. I suspect the ribbons are not white... just washed out by the lighting when the b&w photo was taken.

Hey Mike,

Know for sure Ray was wounded on Iwo, that accounts for one arrowhead, since the other two are the same, you are probably right. If I get to talk to my aunt one day I'll ask if she remembers anything. Thanks for your help.

LB

LB,
Are you sure of the Arrowheads? I found two web sites that stated "Bronze Arrowhead was awarded in designated Army Amphibious and Airborne combat assults. Only one bronze arrowhead could be worn on the ribbon". My Dad was USMC 1940-46 and had only bronze battle stars on his ribbons for invasions. But I guess anything is possible,you should get his service records from St. Louis.
Bob

They must be stars. Very small in the photo. Will scan the photo, which I don't have right now but it is only two minutes away. Thanks.

LB