Can anyone identify the first two ribbons from the left. I know their from WW2.

by ibuildonions

I know what the last one is. I can't find the first two though, at least from the few sites I visited before coming here. Here is the ribbon bar

the_howling_cow

From left to right:

A Philippine Liberation Medal with two bronze service stars. As it is not a U.S. award, (it was given by the Philippine government) it won't be listed on any sites that show only U.S. ribbons or medals.

An American Campaign Medal, awarded to service members who served within the boundaries of the American Theater and were;

  • On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States
  • Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days
  • Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days
  • In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the Soldier actually participated in combat
  • Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year

An Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars for those service members who served in the Pacific theater in designated campaigns of the Army or Navy.

The Philippine Liberation Medal is upside-down and displayed incorrectly; the center should be blue-white instead of white-blue when seen from right to left. As it is a foreign award, the order of precedence in this particular case says that it should be displayed after (to the right of) the given U.S. awards.

This convenient chart places all U.S. and foreign military awards (both individual and unit) from World War II (although a few World War I awards are included) to the present that a service member could earn in the proper order of precedence.

DBHT14

So the middle one is the American Campaign Ribbon. It was awarded to those servicemen who operated in the ATO and who had joined after December 7th 1941. It covered the fighting in the Aleutians, the war against the U-Boats, and the plethora or home front postings or training commands and is a common one to see. [Ribbon]. The similar American Defense Ribbon is for those who were in uniform prior to Pearl Harbor.

The end is a bit less clear, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it is upside down and is the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. It was awarded to Allied personnel by the Philippine Government who participated in Allied efforts on the islands from the landings on Leyte in October 1944 till the end of the war. Ribbon.

This would also make sense as it would be a record of being stationed or trained stateside for a time, then working his way across the Pacific with the great Armada in the Spring and Summer of 1944 into 1945 as it reach the Philippines and later Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

CORedhawk

My Father had these same ribbons (among others). He also got a little piece of paper that listed the ribbons awarded, and I would guess somewhere your grandfather also has or did have this card. You got the correct answer above.