Vets show us your medal ribbon bars

[AKA_Baylor6]

A number of us are military veterans.  It might be interesting for us all to show our ribbon bars.  

 

Here's mine:  

 

No heroics, just 20 years' worth of stuff.

 

 

[Cybermat47]

Impressive stuff. I hope you got a great pension after 20 years of service! Mind explaining to an ignorant Aussie Air Cadet what you've earned?

[OrLoK]

Care to explain them for us civvies?

 

What force? What nationality etc?

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

His is army with deployment ribbons?

A bronze star, meritorious service, arcom, reserves, honarable discharge, never seen those other ones, at the bottom. Must be new not added yet?

Edited May 29, 2017 by 71st_AH_Mastiff

[Hoss]

Don't see a CIB..................

[HagarTheHorrible]

When we won the Cold War I asked if that meant we might be getting a medal. All I got in return was a rather pained , sour look of disdain from my C.O.

 

That's my only claim to having been, or done anything that even, extremely, remotely warranted a bit of tin.

 

I have to confess I rather prefer the more restrained handing out of baubles of the UK, even if it can often be haphazard and uneven in the extreme.

[Feathered_IV]

Very impressive.  I didn't realise what a different culture there was with medals and decorations in the US compared to my own and other commonwealth countries.  It's like having your entire CV on display.  Must be a bit daunting at times!

[unreasonable]

Very impressive.  I didn't realise what a different culture there was with medals and decorations in the US compared to my own and other commonwealth countries.  It's like having your entire CV on display.  Must be a bit daunting at times!

 

It is not just the medal ribbons: the whole tunic would be covered with badges for this or that course of qualification, a bit like the Scouts.

 

I just have my solitary UN medal. As my short army experience did not correspond with an N.I. tour I do not even have the General Service Medal.

 

 

When we won the Cold War I asked if that meant we might be getting a medal. All I got in return was a rather pained , sour look of disdain from my C.O.

 

 

 

Interesting idea: I wonder what the design might be like?  

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

When we won the Cold War I asked if that meant we might be getting a medal. All I got in return was a rather pained , sour look of disdain from my C.O.

 

That's my only claim to having been, or done anything that even, extremely, remotely warranted a bit of tin.

 

I have to confess I rather prefer the more restrained handing out of baubles of the UK, even if it can often be haphazard and uneven in the extreme.

Nobody won the cold war it just slowly warmed up over 40 years and here we are today still struggling with BS

[HagarTheHorrible]

Nobody won the cold war it just slowly warmed up over 40 years and here we are today still struggling with BS

Presumably the C.O shouldn't have paraded us and given us a big long spiel about winning it then ✌️. I have to confess, I was a little sceptical and the comment was very much tongue in cheek.

Edited May 29, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[1./KG4_OldJames]

I have one ribbon after 9 years, but that is British Army for you...and fortunate timing.

[Pajeka]

Likewise, one ribbon after 24 years Royal Air Force.....

[Feathered_IV]

Presumably the C.O shouldn't have paraded us and given us a big long spiel about winning it then ✌️. I have to confess, I was a little sceptical and the comment was very much tongue in cheek.

 

I hope in some way your question to the C.O. becomes part of the official history of the Cold war.

[pilotpierre]

Very impressive. I didn't realise what a different culture there was with medals and decorations in the US compared to my own and other commonwealth countries. It's like having your entire CV on display. Must be a bit daunting at times!

20 years Royal Australian Navy Jan 63 to Jan 83.

 

8 medals (Viet-Nam, Far East Stragetic Reserve, Good Conduct and General Service)

 

The Australian (and in fact all Commonwealth countries) governments are not as generous as some other countries in determining what constitutes the award of a medal.

Edited May 29, 2017 by pilotpierre

[Danziger]

I was in the US Army for seven years and had three rows of three plus a single on top and some little leaves and stars here and there. It's different in the US. When you graduate your training you have two or three ribbons already. E5 and below get an army commendation medal just for going on a deployment. E6 and above get a bronze star. All you have to do is go there and come back. Sometimes you'll get an army achievement medal for going on training exercises or if you did something better than everyone. You also get a good conduct medal every three years unless you piss off someone pretty bad. You get a ribbon or two for participating in certain conflicts. If you get the same ribbon more than once you start adding little metal trinkets pinned onto the ribbon itself. If you're into the feel good "participation trophy" way of doing things then I guess it works. If you want to amass an impressive looking set of ribbons all you have to do is stay in for a long time and have a job that doesn't keep you hidden in an office in a basement.

 

As far as combat badges go, they don't really tell the full truth either. I've got a combat action badge (a CIB type award for non infantry personnel) even though I never fired a weapon in combat. I got mine for being fired at with rockets, mortars and IEDs. However everyone in my unit got the same thing because apparently if a mortar round lands anywhere on the base you are qualified for it.

 

There are a few US medals that you actually have to do something above average to get. Those were the ones I would always look for.

 

I really prefer the other nations' way of earning medals. In the US military I'm not impressed by huge ribbon racks like I was when I was a kid. Unless it's on a WW2/Korea/Vietnam vet. These days the US army is heavy into giving out awards just for the sake of getting stacked.

[HagarTheHorrible]

I hope in some way your question to the C.O. becomes part of the official history of the Cold war.

Judging by the look I got back from both the C.O, Adj, and RSM, probably not. Jail would have probably have been more likely. I didn't much care at the time, I only had a few weeks left before I was out otherwise, you can be sure, I wouldn't have been quite so cocky.

Edited May 29, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[DD_Arthur]

Hagar; was this at Condor?

[TAAC_Blue]

Don't see a CIB

Ah, the arrogance of the Infantryman! Love it!

 

I'm in the same boat as BorysVorobyov. I'm sure they are the same ribbons.

 

Army Commendation Ribbon with leaves

Army Acheivement Medal with leaves

Iraq Campaign Ribbon with 1 Star

Global War On Terror Service Ribbon

Global War On Terror Expeditionary Ribbon

Army Good Conduct Ribbon with bar

NCO Professional Development Ribbo

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon

 

Never got a Bronze Star just for deploying...that always irked me and everyone else I knew.

 

But the only ones I really care about are my Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge

Edited May 29, 2017 by Warrior27

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Both my brothers served in the 1980's Angolan war against Swapo (Russian Trained) and Cuban (Russian trained) forces. I was always proud of them because we were brainwashed and conditioned to believe it was the right thing to do. My eldest brother burnt his kit, medals etc etc. My middle brother still suffers from PTSD and my older brother I think as well but his disorder has not been confirmed.

 

I have since grown to distrust all things government and military.... It is a waste of life and a young person's innocence because a bunch of a**holes with small pricks want to play with millions of people's lives. I have a hard time understanding why the US and the UK etc are interfering in the middle east.... they have no reason to be murdering people there.  

 

And please....... this is no disrespect to you guys and your service to your country, quite the contrary.  

Edited May 29, 2017 by JG19_DendroAspis

[Danziger]

And please....... this is no disrespect to you guys and your service to your country, quite the contrary.

My first tour in Iraq during the invasion I was 19 and believed we were taking out Hussein and helping out Iraq.

 

My second tour I saw all the billions upon billions of dollars worth of materials being built up and figured out we were just there to line government contractor's pockets with taxpayer's money.

 

My last tour I was truly dismayed at the things my unit were doing. Killing civilians as soon as RoE deemed it legal. Confiscation and destruction of civilian property just because they felt like it. They shot and killed a civilian that was staggering drunk outside of our compound just because he got close enough to make it legal. I left the military after that tour.

 

Don't misunderstand me. I know there is a time to fight and a time to kill. However, I am deeply opposed to wasting life in the name of making rich people more money.

[HagarTheHorrible]

Hagar; was this at Condor?

No.

 

21 Engr Regt, Nienburg, I never did 59 Commando, or 9 Sqn Para for that matter. Another fringe benefit was, I was working with Regimental headquarters at the time so had a good working relationship, and got on well with, all the powers that be.

 

Anyway this thread is about people who actually got some confetti to put on their chest rather than some twat who made a gobby remark.

 

As an aside, several lads went and did a French Commando course. Possibly it was just disdain, I'm sure quite undeserved, of the French Army ( primarily conscript at the time) but I don't think the course was considered overly taxing, advanced infantry with boats but not much more. Everyone who passed received a clasp/medal which a few attempted to wear with their Sunday best. It didn't go down well and they were told to remove them post haste.

Edited May 29, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[Holtzauge]

My first tour in Iraq during the invasion I was 19 and believed we were taking out Hussein and helping out Iraq.

 

My second tour I saw all the billions upon billions of dollars worth of materials being built up and figured out we were just there to line government contractor's pockets with taxpayer's money.

 

My last tour I was truly dismayed at the things my unit were doing. Killing civilians as soon as RoE deemed it legal. Confiscation and destruction of civilian property just because they felt like it. They shot and killed a civilian that was staggering drunk outside of our compound just because he got close enough to make it legal. I left the military after that tour.

 

Don't misunderstand me. I know there is a time to fight and a time to kill. However, I am deeply opposed to wasting life in the name of making rich people more money.

 

Can’t blame you for getting out for the reasons you stated but there are always bad apples in life and I guess a war gives them the opportunity to do more damage than usual. However that being said, I’m fed up with all the negative news coverage the Coalition forces get: They are placed under a loupe and many news agencies just love to pounce on any mistakes while they for some reason don’t seem to extend the same courtesy to other nations involved in overseas adventures. Anyway, given the way things are in the Baltic these days I’m glad “Mad Dog” Mattis made the kind of statements he did lately concerning Sweden and if they plan to print a pin for that if push comes to shove then I’m all for it.

[AKA_Baylor6]

My service was with the United States Army including the Texas Army National Guard.  Active duty including tours in Thailand, Okinawa and Vietnam from 1972 - 1975.  

I do not have a Combat Infantryman's Badge (CIB) as I was not an infantryman in combat.  My Dad had the CIB with star (second award) for service in both WW2 and the Korean War.

 

The United States Military has been very generous over the years in giving awards to boost morale.  You do receive lots of participation awards (campaign medals and the like) for being in and going interesting places.

 

Mine are:

 

Bronze Star Medal (for service)

Meritorious Service Medal (for service, a retirement award)

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Army Commendation Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

Reserve Service Medal 

National Defense Service Medal with star (represents service in any branch of the military during time of conflict.)

Army Service Ribbon

Armed Forces Reserve Achievement Medal for 10 year's service in the Reserves

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Overseas Service Ribbon

Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st Class.  Awarded by the Vietnamese military.

Vietnamese Staff Service Medal, 1st Class.                                    "

Vietnamese Service Medal                                                              "

A Texas Army National Guard medal for doing my job well at one of my last assignments

A Texas Army National Guard medal for being in the Texas Army National Guard for over 12 years.

 

I had forgotten how few medals many countries award.  8 of my ribbons were awarded for my tour in Vietnam and my tours in Okinawa and Thailand.  My service was not in any way exceptional.  

 

Many American troops today have done multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other dangerous areas.  They are awarded medals to recognize their service in those areas.  They have earned that recognition.

[keeno]

If you don't mind I'd like to tell a little story about medals and the emotions they produce,

 

A few years ago my wife's grandfather died, he fought in WW2 against the Japanese in the far East. At the wake my wife's brother (my brother-in-law) was there in full military uniform, he's been in the army for about 15 years and is a staff sergeant and was sporting his chest full of medals and carrying his pace stick

 

The send off was taking place at the Royal British Legion club and the walls were adorned with photos, stories and memorabilia from the forces. We went to the bar for a drink and the bar maid looked stunned by my brother-in-laws appearance, he's 6 foot 6 and really looks the part.

 

The bar maid nervously asked about his medals and he modestly reeled off, three tours of Iraq, two as "close protection", two tours in Afghanistan, one in Bosnia and one in Northern Ireland and several other bits and pieces. As we both looked back at the bar maid we were surprised to see she was in floods of tears, then she held out her hand and said, "it's an honour to meet you!"

 

I was proud to be just stood next to him!!!

[DD_Arthur]

I've got four after five years service as a Royal Marine Commando three and a half decades ago.   If Uncle Sam wants to be generous in its awards to the guys for their service then good luck to 'em    It's just another cultural difference between the US and Europe.

 

Five years ago I was shocked to discover that the C/Sgt. who saved my life and those of another dozen mostly teenage Brits and Argentinians by repeatedly flying his Scout helicopter to a landing at night on a mountainside, in a snowstorm, under  shell fire - well he got bugger all!

[LukeFF]

 

 

Nobody won the cold war

 

Tell that to the people who broke down the Berlin Wall. 

[Danziger]

If you really want to get down to it, the only people that "win" in wartime are the people lining their pockets with our cash. The rich own the means to make war. The politicians are among the rich. Not only do they send us idiot peasants to fight, we pay them for the privilege. Modern wars such as Iraq and Afghanistan can and should be fought by small special operations units supported by air, sea, and space tech. The one and only reason for large long term occupying forces is to drag out the conflict to maximize profits. I've seen first hand where the majority of our national debt went.

[Holtzauge]

I've got four after five years service as a Royal Marine Commando three and a half decades ago.   If Uncle Sam wants to be generous in its awards to the guys for their service then good luck to 'em    It's just another cultural difference between the US and Europe.

 

Five years ago I was shocked to discover that the C/Sgt. who saved my life and those of another dozen mostly teenage Brits and Argentinians by repeatedly flying his Scout helicopter to a landing at night on a mountainside, in a snowstorm, under  shell fire - well he got bugger all!

 

Sorry to hear about the helicopter pilot. Sounds like he deserved to be recognized. OTOH that's something I admire in the Brits: No fuss, get the job done, back for a cuppa and then some modest understatements.

 

A bit like our neighbours the Finns: No swaggering macho antics but full of "sisu" and tough as nails.......

Edited May 29, 2017 by Holtzauge

[HagarTheHorrible]

It's interesting talking to people who have been in the Forces and retired (UK) many with a good few years under their belt, probably having joined at much the same time as me, mid 80's early 90's. Very few would recommend it to their kids. I don't know what's changed, or wether we've all just grown up and maybe become far more cynical but it just doesn't feel the same somehow.

[Monostripezebra]

Served 15 months compulsory service.. as concencious objector. No medals. earning less and doing more time then my mates drinking themselves to oblivion in the millitary barracks till the weekend. Still think I had the better working with old peoples and children in need, thought me a thing or two in life, that I will value more then any medals. Especially as in the 90ies the re-unification was still young and the memories that the guys in the other uniform they previous where aiming at, might have very well be your family.... And i am still in favour of conscription. If we must have an army, it is everones buisness and it should be as defense oriented as possible as opposed to medeling in power affairs abroad. Conscription serves that point, as well as making all social milleus interact together for the comon interest. And serving should be equally for all, no buying out, no gender boni. I think it can make sense.

Edited May 29, 2017 by Monostripezebra

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

I got a sweet 5 year service certificate for accumulating back problems while standing with 30lbs of gear in front of some billionaire's corporate facilities for 12 hours a day.

 

I'd post a picture but I tossed it. They spelled my name wrong anyways. It was pretty cool.

[Original_Uwe]

Rather than show my medals today I remember fallen comrades.

 

PFC. Christopher E.Hudson, MOS 11C, 2-12 Cav, 1CD

Killed in action March 21 2004 while returning from patrol vicinity Baghdad international airport. IED attack.

Gone but in my thoughts every day brother. We miss you.

 

http://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-pfc-christopher-e-hudson/257097

Edited May 29, 2017 by 1./JG54_Uwe

[TAAC_Blue]

R.I.P PFC. Christopher E Hudson

[LukeFF]

If you really want to get down to it, the only people that "win" in wartime are the people lining their pockets with our cash. The rich own the means to make war. The politicians are among the rich. Not only do they send us idiot peasants to fight, we pay them for the privilege. Modern wars such as Iraq and Afghanistan can and should be fought by small special operations units supported by air, sea, and space tech. The one and only reason for large long term occupying forces is to drag out the conflict to maximize profits. I've seen first hand where the majority of our national debt went.

Spare us the politics, please.

[unreasonable]

It's interesting talking to people who have been in the Forces and retired (UK) many with a good few years under their belt, probably having joined at much the same time as me, mid 80's early 90's. Very few would recommend it to their kids. I don't know what's changed, or wether we've all just grown up and maybe become far more cynical but it just doesn't feel the same somehow.

 

I was 79-82:  only a little earlier, and I feel much the same way. I learned a great deal from my short  service commission, it was certainly good for me and of course I thought that it was a worthwhile service even if I missed the "exciting" parts going on at the time.  

 

Compared to our experience the forces are now micromanaged to an amazing degree: helmet cameras, radios that work (!?), brigade lawyers!  Brigade HQ in "my day" consisted of the Brigadier, the Brigade Major and half a dozen drivers and signals chaps.  Now it consists of endless rows of people staring at screens. 10,000 British military personnel in Basra but the forces available as boots on the ground for an operation were little more than an infantry company. 

 

Constant downsizing and redundancies.  Women in combat roles.  Smothering safety first training procedures. Dangerous to wear uniform in public spaces in your own country. Endless, repeated, retrospective inquiries into actions taken - and examined - up to  40 years ago. Foreign wars taken for unclear strategic ends with inadequate resourcing and public commitment and no systematic thought for the consequences.  The foreign wars do at least provide the opportunity for active service, which many people do in fact want. With them winding down, there is going to be an awful lot more garrison duty, which sounds restful but actually means working every weekend for months to act as enemy in reservist exercises.    People may disagree with various parts of the list, but taken together it is pretty discouraging.

 

For someone with the education to have other options, I would only recommend joining up now to someone who was potentially fit and motivated enough to get into the special services: which is still a bit of a lottery - turn your ankle at the wrong time during selection and that is it.   I can still see that for certain working class lads - and lasses - it might be a good way to get paid to earn a trade. The lure of an HGV license was always a big pull for the Essex boys who joined my regiment. I expect that has not changed.

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Spare us the politics, please.

Politics and military service go hand in hand.... don't try and separate the two. 

[Mastermariner]

Politics and military service go hand in hand.... don't try and separate the two. 

 

Amen to that!

 

I would love to see the ribbons of  Smedley Butler, the most deccorated soldier in the US

[Bearcat]

Locking this thread. 

 

~!S to all who did not come home. We all know the true nature of war.. Let none of us be deceived.. It is indeed just as FDR said.. 

 

“War is young men dying and old men talking”

 

... it has always been that way and it will always be that way until there is no more war at all.. In the mean time.. let's not get too serious here gents this is after all a flight sim forum.