Glad to hear that, This has been a long slog for our troops with very little of our country even paying attention anymore. What are the bronze stars? He did two tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan?
Yeah, it's a thing to give medals in the military, possibly it makes the brass feel better about themselves than the troops receiving them. Your Gramps got his ticket out playing Vball or hunting tigers? FFS I hope it was the later!
Your mom has one? You lost a brother then, or maybe a sister? Condolences. And four of your dad's siblings? Man that is heartbreaking service.
I'd have to ask him. He did one tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan as a Marine. But those stars can be awarded for certain phases of a campaign or certain battles or campaigns. His unit undertook a major push into Helmand Province in 2007, and that may be the reason for one or two of them, but I'm not sure. From Wiki ... A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star 3⁄16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the seven uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period.[1] The service star may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award is authorized the star and the manner in which the device is used for the award.[2] Service stars, campaign stars, and battle stars are worn with one point of the star pointing up on the suspension ribbon of a medal or service ribbon. A silver star is worn instead of five bronze stars.[1] A service star is sometimes mistaken for a Bronze Star (Bronze Star Medal) or Silver Star (Silver Star Medal). The service star is also similar to the gold and silver 5⁄16 Inch Stars which may be authorized to be worn on specific individual decorations of certain services to denote additional decorations.
Cool - check with him and post back please, just out of curiosity if it's not a problem. On the other hand don't bug him at all about it if it is. It's my understanding that a lot of combat vets absolutely do not want to talk about it.
I googled around a bit and found out that the stars on the Iraq and Afghanistan ribbons designate being involved in a phase of those campaigns. The ribbon on the bottom row is the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, which he would have received for his first deployment. The star on it is for his second deployment. Again, from Wiki ... (I put in bold the parts that apply to my son.) A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army, and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a United States Navy, Coast Guard, Army, or NOAA vessel at sea and/or members of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard who have been forward-deployed with their home unit. Additional awards of the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Army Sea Duty Ribbon, and NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon are denoted by bronze and/or silver service stars on the ribbon.
The Bronze stars are, I'm almost certain, for second deployments on all three ribbons. Meaning your son served two rounds in Iraq, Afghanistan and deployed at sea. Whatever the duration or definition of a deployment may be. I'm stoked that he's made it through to the other side having been a combat vet.
Well, as you know, the military is kind of funny about ribbons and decorations. Seriously, my son did one deployment to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. What I discovered when I searched for information for you was that he got a ribbon for going to Iraq, and he got a ribbon for going to Afghanistan. He also got to put a star on each ribbon for being there during a certain phase of those campaigns. So yes, he got a ribbon and a star for each deployment. Here is a link where you can see for yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Campaign_Medal Pull down to the heading "Devices". You will see a picture of the Iraq Campaign ribbon with a star on it for "Any one of the seven phases". And it shows pictures of the ribbon with more stars on it for additional tours. Only the Sea Service Ribbon star is for a second deployment. And yes, I'm thankful every day that he's alive. In my family, we refer to July 23rd as "Life Day" because he lived through it. Seth
@Grey Matter And just because you're interested, Top row: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon Second row: Navy Unit Citation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Third row: National Defense Ribbon, Iraq and Afghanistan Ribbons Fourth row: Global War on Terrorism, Sea Service Deployment, NATO Medal
Yes Sir, I built your son's ribbon here, https://www.medalsofamerica.com/build-your-ribbons-rack I'm also proud of your son.
I'm actually really proud of my four ribbons - especially given that so very few US citizens do actually participate in the armed services. I hold this particular ribbon above quite a few others for a lot of reasons.
I agree. Now name one that is only given to those who are dead. I already listed the one award that was ever made for that purpose. It was a special one time award, given to 4 extraordinary individuals who many thought were deserving of a CMoH, but were not eligible because they did not die in combat. And that will likely never be repeated. Out of the hundreds of awards our military has made, that is the only one where the recipients were dead when it was awarded, not a single other one.
Oh I completely misread the OP. I thought the question was do we give out awards for people after they died. I didn't realize they were talking about giving awards to somebody BECAUSE they died. Yeah no I agree that is pretty pointless... Giving an award to someone who has passed away after new information is revealed about something they may have done during service is fine. But having a purple heart style ribbon because of death doesn't make much sense.
The Silver and Bronze Stars are awarded after death to include the medal of honor. But no medal that I know of is awarded only because one dies in combat. The Purple Heart is for combat injuries. The Silver and bronze Stars are awarded to the living as well as the dead.
Well if they die in combat, then they got a combat injury that was fatal, and that's why the PH is often awarded posthumously. My son's best friend in the Marines was killed instantly by an IED, and he was posthumously awarded a PH. I'm pretty sure that's a common practice.
It is. Now the Purple Heart is awarded for any injury during combat whether one lives or dies. but it isn't only given to those who have died. That I think was the main question of the OP.
No, the "Sea Service Deployment Ribbon" is for any non-combat related deployment, either on land or on sea. The name dates back to the era where Marines were sent overseas on ships, so would typically spend 4 months on land and 2 months at sea going to-from their posting. But in the modern era, we fly there but the name remains. And it is the same award, if we fly to Okinawa for 6 months, or spend 6 months floating around the Pacific on amphibious transports. So he got one for each deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, no sea service required.