Unnamed Air Force Officer's Ribbon Bar to a Ww2 and Korean War vet. Updated post.
Unnamed Air Force Officer's Ribbon Bar to a Ww2 and Korean War vet.
There's a few interesting things to note about this particular ribbon bar.
The first one is that is that the ribbons are skinnier then normal ribbons. Could have been made by the veterans wife or something. This isn't the first time I have seen skinny ribbons being used.
Second is the fact he has the Joint Service Commodation ribbon witch was created in June 1963. This would put him at minimum of 18 to 19 years of service. His air force longevity ribbon has 3 bronze oak leaf clusters on it representing 16 years of service. The ribbon is awarded for 4 years of service and each oak leaf cluster represents an additional 4 years of service. Also the Journey Service Commodation ribbon wasn't just handed out back then like it is now it was a prestigious award really only give to higher ranking officers and for him to be awarded it early on is a sign he was in a important position.
Third is the fact he was a officer his entire career meaning he was likely a west point graduate who got commissioned in either 1944 or 1945 and got sent to the Pacific towards the end of the war and would fly several missions based upon the fact he the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster.
The National Defense Service Medal for Vietnam wasn't authorized under January 1966 and was then back dated to anyone wbo served during the eligibility period after December 31st 1960. Thus making this ribbon bar correct for the time period from 1963 to 1965. Since this ribbon bar is from at minimum June 1963 he wouldn't be eligible for a 2nd service star on his NDSM ribbon. However if was still in service after January 1966 he would be eligible.
Executive Order 11265, dated January 11, 1966, extended eligibility for the NDSM to service members "who served during any period after December 31, 1960, which the Secretary of Defense designates as being a period for which active military service merits special recognition." The closing date of this period of eligibility was later set at August 14, 1974 by a letter from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, subject: Termination of Eligibility for the National Defense Service Medal, dated June 30, 1974.
Updated version