Collector thread! Show off your collection here!

[yanacek]

Richman,

I swear that I have never seen any ribbons like that before. I'll bet it was a real pain to replace them when the became soiled. Judging from the campaign ribbons, it looks like U.S. Army or USAAF of WW-II era.

[yanacek]

After a second look, these ribbons show World War II service but would represent service after 1953 (the year the NDSM was established).

[Richman]

Has to be Korea time frame because of the NDSM and the AFRM. Embroidered ribbons existed up through the early 80s with the Army and Air Force. USMC seemed to end the use in the early 70s as I haven't found examples of them since that era. Air Force and Army are still authorized to wear them. I have mine directly sewn on my greens. I also have a set of the clutch back type for my blues, so I can wear full size medals from time to time.

[Richman]

The AF Vice Chief of Staff has a set he wears. Here is his picture. I have a close up picture of his set (before it was delivered to him). The pic is too big to post here.

http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6426

[Richman]

Richman,

I swear that I have never seen any ribbons like that before. I'll bet it was a real pain to replace them when the became soiled.

Just the opposite. I have had a couple hundred people finger %$##$% the hell out of my set and they still look great. My BX bought version wouldn't last with the same treatment with all the normal oils found on skin and fingers.

Sewing them directly on the uniform is a pain, but they can be dry cleaned.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

The embroidered ribbons became popular during the Japanese occupation (and the German as well..but that's a different topic..) and then after the Korean war. They were 'private purchase' by the individual.

Remember this was in the days when you *might* have gotten 5 total ribbons throughout your career, perhaps more, but you weren't adding a ribbon a year like some do now.

I've never seen a USMC set of embroidered ribbons in wear on a USMC uniform. Plenty of army and navy, and a few AF, but never seen USMC. They look very impressive.

These ribbons were sometimes worn with p/b so they could be removed for cleaning, but most of the time they were stitched directly to the uniform and left there.

[iamcloudlander]

Sergeant Majors were authorized a distinctive belt buckle to denote their position sometime in mid 1943 or early 1944. This buckle was the old army pattern officer buckle as used during the Civil War. Not sure when it was no longer authorized for wear, likely the Korean era since SgtMaj Lynch probably retired with "20" prior to Korea. These buckles are rather uncommon these days. This one is unmarked as is the belt.





The dress blue cover...that is a dress BLUE cover! These were used from before WWII, during WWII (when the barracks cover was issued) and until just before Korea. The Blue cover is actually more commonly seen during this time period than the white cover is for some reason. I have the white cover as well. The brim is a nice thick leather and would have had to have been 'spit shined'.

I am happy to see the blue cover on this site as a while back I saw the movie on the history channel "Wake Island,
the Alamo of the Pacific" and some of the pictures of the Marines that defended it and were captured were wearing this cover in the pictures they showed during the movie. I have inquired to many Marines that were in WWII and none could remember a blue cover (actually I thought it was black) so again thank you for finally clearing this up for me.

[Finger]

My new "Man Cave" is still in progress. I will have some new pics soon with "duce gear" and such.

S/F
Finger

[Finger]

AS PROMISED

[Finger]

A few more

S/F
Finger

[jerryk]

whats a gcr?

[kenrobg30]

Sgt Lep,

I too wore the horseblanket until the day before it was no longer authorized. It was a great piece of gear, especially since I was stationed in Cleveland. We used to call that hideous-gray coat "The London Fog" coat.

We were in style before it was stylish, Sgt, Go out, and price a London Fog coat these days. Semper FI!! Ken

[Sgt Leprechaun]

LOL. Yeah, believe me I know. Great pics finger!

[kenrobg30]

The unfaithful fiancee, trash the ***** brings back memories.

Got a 'DJ' from a girl I'd only known for a month. Went Korea, came home, looked her up, and married her. We've got six kids, twenty two grandkids, five G_G_grandkiids, with two more on the way. Scarey ain't
it? Sempre Fi! ken

[SGT7477]

Got a 'DJ' from a girl I'd only known for a month. Went Korea, came home, looked her up, and married her. We've got six kids, twenty two grandkids, five G_G_grandkiids, with two more on the way. Scarey ain't
it? Sempre Fi! ken

Well Ken that was my first girlfriend when I first got into the Corps I dropped the cheating witch but my wife I have now I met her my last year and a half I had left in the Corps and this Jan the 22nd will be 32 years, got married on my birthday, Semper Fidelis.