Help identifying ribbon

Hi folks,

I hope someone can shed a little light on this for me. My Dad's ribbons include a rather odd looking one (top left in first picture). We have a picture of him in uniform wearing it. It looks hand made to me, not made of real ribbon. It "appears" to be an Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon of some sort. Has anyone ever seen this before?





If I had to guess, it looks like an Army Occupation of Germany "ribbon" but the edge color should be blue, shouldn't it? It also doesn't look like ribbon at all. This really has me stumped. Any help would really be appreciated.

Thanks...Pete

 

It appears to be a handmade Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon...
Unfortunately, it is for WW1, and was established on November 21, 1941.

 

Understood. I'm wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this. My Dad spent the lion's share of his time in the Italian Campaign.

Thanks...Pete

 

Were these ribbons issued during WWII? If they were, I was not aware of it. Could it have been something he got from his affiliation with AMGOT?

Thanks...Pete

 

The WW1 Occupation medal ribbons were used instead of the not readily available WW2 version. If you went into a PX and asked for a Occupation medal ribbon you might get the WW1 version. Your photo shows a version probably copied from a picture or a retread WW1 vet.

 

He may have been prior service and served on occupation duty after WWI. The WWII version was not instituted until 1946 so he may have substituted as chibobber posted, Regardless, the correct order of wear would be after the WWII Victory Medal.

 

He was born in 1912, so he missed the first one. I would agree that chibobber is probably correct on it.

Thanks...Pete

 

I hadn't considered the order - good point, Slipdigit. Could be the GCM after all, he had plenty of time to earn it by 1945 when we think this picture was taken.

 

Thanks very much for all of your comments, Gents. This is the kind of detail that is helping me piece together Dad's story.

Thanks...Pete

 

The medal was established in April, 1946...However, it was not actually awarded until about a year later, in 1947. With Ike receiving the first one on April 2, 1947.

 

That's what I am thinking. The blurred nature of the photo prevents a positive identification of the ribbon, the two ribbons would look very similar. But, the order of precedence would be wrong.

 

Jeff, I copied this from Wiki "During times of war, the Good Conduct Medal may be awarded for one year of faithful service. The Good Conduct Medal may also be awarded posthumously, to any service member killed in the line of duty." so I think it is the Good Conduct in the picture.

 

LRusso216 -

Just got a copy of GO 167 from the National Archives. He's listed on page 2 (William J Davini) and the GO was issued in August of 1945. He was separated the following November. I have a screen shot from the GO.

Thanks...Pete

 

Hi. I´m new here and my interest in ww2 is alsso rather new. I´m from Sweden, the "neutral" country, haha.... I would like to know what this ribbon is for. Thanks.

 

Interesting update on the Bronze Star. According to a video that was made when my mother was still alive, she told the story of how Dad was awarded the Bronze Star. He volunteered for a search and rescue operation in the caves at Monte Casino. Apparently a Major had entered the caves and had not returned. He and another soldier went in to find him and bring him out. The cave was mined, so it was dangerous from that perspective. Turned out that the major was dead when they found him, so they had to carry him out.

So from this information, I have a time frame that I can use for accessing after action reports written in the first half of 1944. Narrows things down a little.