Posted: 4/14/2014 12:47:01 PM EDT
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my mom just got my dad's DD214 from the VA to change the survivor benefit for agent orange. She sent a copy to me, via text message. There is a row above the Education and Training completed section for medals, badges, and something else. Hard to read on the phone. Line 24, maybe? What I would like to know/find out, are what the initials mean. Dad was a gunship pilot and was in Viet Nam from 65-66, then instructor pilot at Ft. Rucker from 66-67. Any info would be appreciated. From line 24 (I think) : NDSM, AIR MEDAL W/9 OLC, VSM, BSM, and this one is hard to make out, 1 0 S BAR. Once again, thanks for any info that can be provided.
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Quoted: Did you and becks know that off the top of your head? Or did you have to look that up? Seth Quoted: Quoted: National defense service medal Air medal with 9 oak leaf clusters vietnam service medal Bronze star medal And I'm my sure what the last one is. Did you and becks know that off the top of your head? Or did you have to look that up? Seth |
| Thank you but it really isn't. Most people who have served time in the military and have actually earned medals/ribbons or seen the Old Guard walking around in dress uniform know what the acronyms stand for. It always intrigued me to see the Vietnam era Marines at a Dress function and trying to decipher what their "salad bowl" meant. Each campaign has specific ribbons for it only. A lot of them cross over several generations. The National Defense Service ribbon is one that most service members get. When I was in the Corps we called it the fire watch ribbon. Everybody got it who served, it was awarded right out of boot camp when Desert Shield/Storm kicked off. |
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Quoted:
Thank you but it really isn't. Most people who have served time in the military and have actually earned medals/ribbons or seen the Old Guard walking around in dress uniform know what the acronyms stand for. It always intrigued me to see the Vietnam era Marines at a Dress function and trying to decipher what their "salad bowl" meant. Each campaign has specific ribbons for it only. A lot of them cross over several generations. The National Defense Service ribbon is one that most service members get. When I was in the Corps we called it the fire watch ribbon. Everybody got it who served, it was awarded right out of boot camp when Desert Shield/Storm kicked off. Made me laugh - we called it the "I was alive in 65 ribbon". If you were breathing you got it. |
| Thanx for the responses. I didn't know what the initials stood for, and for that matter, I'm still doing some research on what they are for. Mom just got the DD214 in the mail this week. Couldn't find dads, knew he had one for the agent orange and VA stuff, just didn't know where it was, |
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The Air Medal may say 9 oak leaf clusters but it actually worn with numerals, so it would have a bronze 9 on it, during that time it was awarded for every 25 combat missions, now it's awarded for every 6 months or once a deployment. I have 2. One for each deployment. By 'nam standards I would have about 12-13. The award came about during ww2 and 25 missions was a huge accomplishment then. It's the one award I am most proud of. Distinguished rifleman badge is my #1 the air medals are #2. The others... Well, they are what they are.
Google AR 600-22 for any questions about what that 214 awards block contains. ETA we used to have a VN pilot in our unit, Mr. Lowe. His air medal ribbon had a "52" on it... Yeah.. OH-6 loach pilot... Damn.. |