Posted 14 years ago
Driewer
(31 items)
I picked this up at a local antique shop. Has "Dean C Swift" written in the inside. Its a 38L and actually fits me.
This shop has his other uniforms, probly from the 50's or 60's. He became a doctor and grew to a 48?XL Huge! I know he was an engineer.
I know the ribbons are WWII victory ribbon, and ones a Occupation medal. (Whats the mean? He was over after the war?) And what does the Pin on the shoulders mean? I think there was differnt levels of marksmen, What level was this man?Something with engineer. I need some help with the patches also
Help would be appreciated :)
Patch on right shoulder is for combat service with the 88th division. They served in Italy. Patch on left is for service command. He was a private.
This information was given to me from a friend. Hope it helps.
There is another possibility on the lack of a European/ African/ Middle East Campaign Medal-- the soldier didn't put it on or it was lost.
It would be highly unusual to be awarded a combat patch and not serve during one of the campaigns. Occupation periods are not qualifying periods for a combat patch. The beginning period of award of the Occupation Medal marked the cessation of combat and the cessation of combat awards.
FACT: there is no way to earn a combat patch outside of the campaign period!
When the war ended combat patches were no longer awarded.
Wearing a combat patch that he didn't earn is against regulations.
Take a look at Nimitz photo-- still believe your regulation violation: "not wearing a medal awarded"?
Thanks for pointing that out. I have never heard of a soldier being awarded a combat patch outside of the campaign period. I wonder how true "combat vets" felt about an occupation troop getting a combat patch. If you read accounts of post war occupation periods, a common theme is the friction between new soldiers with almost sterile uniforms and the vets decked out.
As far as my CDR-- his order made sense to me and I chose to comply. Based on the reg, I could have made a mountain out of a mouse turd and refused. In the end, it only would have hurt me. In the Infantry credibility is INITIALLY built based off what you are wearing. Folks make quick judgements. Of course over time PERFORMANCE replaces those initial judgements, but it is better to not start off in a hole.
There is an old saying that Infantry Officers either have a Ranger Tab or an Excuse. I have worked with great officers without a tab and conversely, terrible officers with a tab. But on first impression many fellow infantrymen will think less of an officer without one. A similar judgement could be used to evaluate a combat veteran.
Scott