Posted in

Name that ribbon rack

by Mason••35

A while back I did a movie magic analysis of a screen used awards rack. As I was cleaning up my computer today I noticed a couple of old pictures I’d tucked away and then completely forgotten about. You may have noticed that the recent hullabaloo around Walz has disrupted some of our regular programming. Management regrets that we’ve gotten busy, but we are sometimes easily distracted. *grin*

Anyway, time for a wee little game to pass the day. No cheating now. Name the ribbon rack in the above photo. Who does such a magnificent display of daring and public service belong to? For those needing a hint, you might notice a CIB, the MoH, three DSCs, three Silver Stars, a DFC, a BSM w/ “V”, two Purple Hearts, and scads of overseas service through two World Wars and the Korean conflict. I’ll help you out though and say that the CIB pictured was awarded as an honorary award from the Chief of Staff of the US Army (one of only a few such honorary CIBs awarded).

Next up, guess who this display belongs to;

I guarantee you’ll be surprised at just which famous man wore this bit of soup sandwichy goodness. On top is a meritorious BSM, then a DSC with an out of whack OLC, then an Army DSM with two out of whack OLCs, and a Silver Star with a slightly janky OLC. The bottom row is a Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the ribbon for a British Companion to the Order of the Bath. Out of order medals, with messed up devices, and clearly missing service awards (though not in and of itself wrong with an “All, some, or none” display regulation as this is being worn on an Ike jacket).

First with the right answer(s) gets a hearty “Attaboy” from the staff here at TaH/Valor Guardians.

You might also like

Screaming Eagle Found in Louisiana

Valor Friday

Navy SEAL Gets 10 Years for His Role in Green Beret’s Death

35 thoughts on “Name that ribbon rack”

  1. In the top photo it appears to include Marine Corps Expert Rifle and Pistol a gold Oak Leaf also

    1. Also noted is the Army of Occupation medal. :”A military award for 30 or more days of duty in one of the occupied territories after World War II.” Service in Berlin prior to the wall coming down qualifies. Been there, done that.

    2. The Marine Corps shooting badges were patterned after the U.S. Army badges. If I remember right, the Pistol badge in its current configuration didn’t come into being until after the Second World War.

    1. The top one definitely looks like MacArthur. The bottom one most likely is Patton but it’s missing a bunch of stuff.

    3. Stand by for rack greatness…
      I heard there was going to be a Cold War ribbon/medal authorized, but nothing ever materialized?

  3. First image Audie Murphy perhaps?
    Just a guess but Eisenhower for the second?

    1. For some reason, whomever put MacArthur’s rack together missed that one. He rated one for Korea, and rates another for the Vietnam-era (since the five-stars remained on AD until death). Though he died before the establishment of the Vietnam NDSM, he is within the timeframe for it. Which, being appropriate for the time, would be worn as an OLC on the NDSM.

  5. Maps is correct.

    The first picture award ribbon rack belongs to General Douglas MacArthur. We went to the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA, where his uniform is displayed.

    “General MacArthur’s US Army uniform at The MacArthur Memorial – Norfolk VA”.

    1. Maps is correct.

      The second awards ribbon rack belongs to General George Patton.

      Maps deserves the TAH Attaboy!

      😉😎

        2. Yep…Fruit Salad, Chest Salad, Seize Her Salad, Tossed Salad, Bling, Gedunk, or whatever. Doug Out Doug was a more “Look at/Love me as I Love Me” kinda guy where as Georgie was a more “Let’s go kill the Sons-of-Bitches” kinda guy. Wasn’t it Ike that was the best clerk George ever had?

          1. As I read it, Eisenhower said he studied acting under MacArthur, and MacArthur replied that Eisenhower was the best clerk he ever had.

              1. I could be wrong, won’t be the FIRST time. 😀 Thought I heard George say that in the Patton movie. Seems like I remember, too, that Ike became a GO after others and was “promoted ahead of his peers.” I do know that Patton despised Monty and many of the ossifers that served with Doug thought that Doug was a vainglorious poppycock. YMMV

                Guess I could get off my azz and Google The Foo out it.

  6. Name this ribbon rack.
    Seems harmless enough,
    for any local May or November parade, or even a cemetery Honor Guard.

    However, this veteran evaded detection,
    until 3½ years after a failed run for US Congress,
    and 6 months after being eliminated in a quest for state Lt. Governor.

    1. Ah… MacA, yes; Ike, no. (Saw the pic of Patton above. Didn’t know he got a British medal when he and Monty didn’t get along.)

        1. I heard Historic Rumor that Patton referred to Montgomery as “That Damned Peacock”!

    1. I thought originally the bottom was Patton but I know he has a hell of a lot more than that. Oh well.

  9. The first is, indeed, MacArthur, and it’s easy. There are two dead giveaways … the epaulet bearing the Coat of Arms is only worn by a General of the Army, and the Medal of Honor ribbon. The only GA to have the MoH is MacArthur.

Comments are closed.