I'm attempting to build a display case for my grandfather's World War II service. He served in the USNR from 1942-1945 and was honorably discharged as a BM 2/c. It is for display in my office as he passed away in 1967.

He was awarded the American Area Ribbon, the European-African Area with 1 Silver Star, and the American Victory Medal.

I wanted to accurately display his awards and would greatly appreciate any recommendations on how to do it correctly. The only personal items I have for display are his dog tags and "ruptured duck" patch. I am planning on purchasing the medals/ribbons/etc. from Medals of America.

Has anyone else done this? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

I have my father's in a shadowbox - wings, medals, rank, 8th AF patch, and squadron patch, which is the coolest part of the display.

When I retired from the AF, my officemates presented me with a similar display of mine - medals, rank, ribbons that have no accompanying medal included, and a HQ AF medallion.

Places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby have a fair selection of pre-made shadow boxes at reasonable prices. Just lay out your "stuff" and arrange and re-arrange until you like what you see, measure a reasonable rectangle around it, and buy the appropriate size.

A google search will lead you to a website that will give you the correct order of precedence for the medals and ribbons. The highest precedent medal/ribbon should be on your left as you view the display.

Thanks, JR. Were WWII vets given both ribbons and medals for their accomplishments? Also curious whether I should order a separate silver star ribbon/medal or just attach one to the European-African Area ribbon and medal?

If anybody has pictures of their displays to share, I would really like to see how they are done. Thanks!

Make sure to put them in the correct order of precidence. You can probably find more info using google or something.

quote:

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European-African Area with 1 Silver Star

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Double check this. I saw you posted about a Silver Star medal, which is not the same thing as a medal with a silver star. A silver star device replaces five bronze star devices.

Here are some pictures from my Grandmother's house when I was last there in 2010. My Grandfather passed away in 1987 he would have been 97 years old this year.

He got busted back one rank when his outfit decided to take an extra day of leave in Brisbane, Australia before they shipped out for the invasion of New Guinea. He got a letter of commendation for action treating wounded during the invasion action at Hollandia.

At some point after the invasion of The Philippines, he changed units from the 5th Army Air Corps to the 13th Army Air Corps.

The small blue pin in the shadow box is a Union Carbide pin where he worked as an Operator for 42 years (including the credit they gave him for his 3 years in The Service during The War). He started in Gary, Indiana and later transferred to the new plant in Texas City, Texas around 1953. Being 1/2 Swede and 1/2 Norwegian, he was never going to fit in in polite Swedish society in Chicago or Minnesota so moving to Texas was probably a good call

I'm glad I did this. I had to do a little digging to find out what the various medals were. The Arrowhead on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is for Amphibious assault. I knew that was something he did but I never realized that's what the arrowhead was for.

Looks like the medal he was missing is the Philippine Liberation Medal.

Another thing I noticed is that on his jacket, the Good Conduct Medal should be higher than the American Campaign Medal (at least according to this order of precedence I found on-line). I wonder if maybe that jacket got cleaned at some point and whoever put the ribbons back on it just put that top row of ribbons on upside down by accident.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and information about your grandfather, Hollywood. Very cool stuff.

Thanks for the info on the Silver Star, Ryan. He did get a silver star device to replace the five bronze stars (took part in five campaigns). I wasn't sure if this was different than a Silver Star Medal, which I guess it is.

I really appreciate everything. Thanks for posting!

I have a website about my grandfather's service, if anyone is interested in checking it out:

http://www.daviswilliamsfamilytree.com/?page_id=974

Very likely Hollywood - you can see that each row is separate. Today most put them together on a little slide bracket thingy so they are all one unit.

With VERY FEW exceptions, individual awards have precedence, then unit awards, then participation awards (campaign medals).

Wreckingcrew the Silver Star is an individual award for valor in combat. The silver star device is an attachment to a campaign ribbon and represents 5 separate campaigns or major battles - in the vernacular of the time they were called 'battle stars'. Single awards were bronze.

Thanks, JR. I appreciate the info. Glad I checked on here before ordering.

Here's a website that might help you develop some ideas. They're trying to sell medals, ribbons, and displays, but they have some interactive tools that you can play around with, see the medals together, ribbons, etc with all the devices attached.

http://www.medalsofamerica.com/

Kinda fun to play around with.

Gig 'Em!

Here's my retirement shadowbox and sword display box (stacked on each other for one photo but are separate units). The shadowbox has my A&M corps stuff in the lower left along with AF stripes (I had to resign from USN to accept USAF contract, so I was a SSgt for a while), my enlisted Navy stripes on the right (the small CPO stripes were worn as Recruit Chief Petty Officer of my boot camp company), and my last rank as Officer at the top (the small black tab with white decorations is Korean Navy Captain rank tab that I wore on duty in country). My medals are displayed as they were mounted in rows but from left to right and top to bottom. The Texas Flag was actually a "mock up" made out of a salvaged US Flag.

Lee -

That is really cool. Thanks for your service and for sharing the photo.

wrecking -

If I were in your shoes, I would go to the closest Naval reserve station with the stuff you've got and ask the Senior Officer and Senior NCO for some guidance. I would bet on them really taking some time to research this stuff as things like this give them a boner!

Chowdah, that made me laugh.

Wrecking -

You can get your granddad's service records by requesting them online at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
The DD-214 will include the official list all of his medals and his inclusive service dates.
Had he still been alive, you (or he) could have requested a once-in-a-lifetime replacement FREE set of medals from Dept of the Navy (for others who may be interested, other services do the same). There are instances that Next of Kin may obtain a FREE replacement set (if the member was discharged after 1950); see http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/awards-and-decorations.html#nok for more information.

[This message has been edited by Lee72 (edited 1/26/2012 8:17a).]

[This message has been edited by Lee72 (edited 1/26/2012 8:23a).]

There will be no DD-214 for someone discharged in 1945. I don't believe there is or was a document like the DD-214 that summarizes a service career during those times.

I am fortunate to have copies of all of my father's records - he kept them and there is a Rubbermaid tub full of them. His release from the USAAF is documented by a simple letter.

To get a veteran's headstone for him when he passed, I had to submit to the VA copies of documentation for each decoration my mother wanted on the headstone. Fortunately it was all in the tub - orders for the awards, promotions, movement orders, and his discharge.

Lee, thanks for the info. I have all of my grandfather's service records and did inquire about getting a replacement set of medals. Since he was discharged in 1945 and is deceased, they would not provide them.