.United States Army - Ribbon Appurtenances.


Victory Medal, World War I

WW1 Victory Medal Devices © RWD PLOESSL

Citation Stars 

By Act of Congress, 09 Jul 1918, a 3/16-inch silver 'Citation Star' was authorized to denote receipt of a citation for gallantry in action, in the First World War and retroactive to the Civil War, of a degree less than that required for award of the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross.
Citation Stars take precedence and are to be worn above and to the wearer's right of other devices.
On 08 Aug 1932, Congress revised the Act to create the Silver Star medal. The new medal incorporated the silver Citation Star as its central feature. Veterans were authorized the replacement decoration, but had to discontinue wear of Citation Stars on their Victory Medal (or other Service Medals for USN and USMC personnel).
 

Battle Clasps 

Bronze clasps, 1/8-inch by 1-1/2 inches, with the names of the thirteen campaigns of the US Army during the First World War and one titled "Defensive Sector", worn on the suspension ribbon of the Victory Medal. These are distinguished from Service Clasps by the star at each end of the inscription. A bronze Service Star is worn on the service ribbon of the Victory Medal in lieu of the clasp.

Battle Clasps denote actual participation in or direct support of troops involved in each campaign. The inclusive dates of each campaign period can be found at the entry for The Victory Medal, World War I, on my Service Medals page.
 
 

Service Clasps 

Bronze clasps, 1/8-inch by 1-1/2 inches, with the name of the country of service during the First World War, worn on the suspension ribbon of the Victory Medal when no Battle Clasps were awarded. These are distinguished from Battle Clasps by the lack of the star at each end of the inscription. Service Clasps denote service of at least 30 days in the country inscribed.


Additional Clasps

Additional Clasps© RWD PLOESSL

Foreign Service Clasp 

Bronze clasp, 1/8-inch by 1-1/2 inches, worn on the suspension ribbon of the
American Defense Service Medal to denote service outside of the continental limits of the United States during the qualification period of the medal. This includes members of operating crews of sailing vessels and aircraft making, and actually participating in, regular and frequent trips over ocean waters, even though they may have been based within the continental United States. Not more than one such clasp is authorized.

A 3/16-inch bronze Service Star is worn on the service ribbon of the medal in lieu of the clasp.
 
 

Germany and Japan Clasps 

Bronze clasps, 1/8-inch by 1-1/2 inches, worn on the suspension ribbon of the Army of Occupation Medal to denote occupation service in Europe and the Far East, respectively. Clasps bearing other inscriptions are not authorized. Veterans who served in both Europe and the Far East during occupation may wear both clasps on the suspension ribbon and have popularly worn a 3/16-inch bronze Service Star on the service ribbon to denote award of both clasps.

The Berlin Airlift Device is also worn on both the suspension and service ribbons of the Army of Occupation Medal, above or to the wearer's right of other devices.
 
 

  Wintered Over Disc and Clasp 

Worn on the service and suspension ribbons of the Antarctic Service Medal by personnel who remain on the Antarctic continent during the winter months. The disc is 5/16-inch in diameter, with an outline of the Antarctic continent inscribed, it is worn centered on the service ribbon. A metal clasp with the words "Wintered Over" is worn on the suspension ribbon of the medal. These are awarded in bronze for the first winter, in gold for the second winter, and in silver for personnel who "winter over" three or more times.
Not more than one disc or clasp will be worn on the ribbon.


Current Appurtenances

Current Appurtenances© RWD PLOESSL

"V" for Valor 

There are several decorations awarded by the US Army which are earned for achievement and service, or, in battle, for valor and heroism. To distinguish the award of the decorations for valor a bronze "V" for Valor device is attached. No more than one "V" may be worn on a ribbon.
These decorations are:


Oak Leaf Clusters 

The bronze Oak Leaf Cluster is awarded to and worn by Army and Air Force personnel on all US decorations, except the Air Medal, to denote the second and subsequent awards.  A silver Oak Leaf Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze.  OLC's are also worn on unit citations, The Prisoner of War Medal, and the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal for the same purpose.
   

Good Conduct Medal Knots 

A metal clasp, 1/8-inch by 1 3/8-inches; of bronze, silver, or gold is worn on the service
or suspension ribbon of the Good Conduct Medal to indicate second and subsequent awards:

2d Award,
 bronze clasp-2 knots x|x
 9th Award,
 silver clasp-4 knots
3d Award,
 bronze clasp-3 knots |
 10th Award,
 silver clasp-5 knots
4th Award,
 bronze clasp-4 knots |
 11th Award,
 gold clasp-1 knot
5th Award,
 bronze clasp-5 knots |
 12th Award,
 gold clasp-2 knots
6th Award,
 silver clasp-1 knot
 |
 13th Award,
 gold clasp-3 knots
7th Award,
 silver clasp-2 knots |
 14th Award, gold clasp-4 knots
8th Award,
 silver clasp-3 knots |
 15th Award, gold clasp-5 knots

Berlin Airlift Device 

<> A gold colored metal miniature of a C-54 type aircraft of 3/8-inch wingspan. It is worn on the service and suspension ribbons of the Army of Occupation Medal. Awarded for service of 92 consecutive days with a unit credited with participation in the Berlin Airlift, or by competent field authority on an individual basis. Qualifying service must have been entirely within the period from 26 Jun 1948 to 30 Sep 1949, inclusive. Orders announcing the award of the Berlin Airlift Device will specifically award the Army of Occupation Medal to persons not otherwise eligible.
   

Arrowhead 

A bronze replica of an Indian arrowhead 1/4-inch tall. It denotes participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. A soldier must actually exit the aircraft or watercraft to receive assault credit. Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit.  The Arrowhead is worn on the service and suspension ribbons of the: No more than one Arrowhead will be worn on any ribbon.
 
 

Service Stars

A five-pointed metal star, 3/16-inch in diameter, worn on campaign and service ribbons to denote additional award or participation in designated campaigns or operations. A silver Service Star is worn in lieu of five bronze and, on the Army Sea Duty Ribbon, a 5/16-inch gold Service Star is worn for the 10th award.

3/16-inch bronze Service Stars are also affixed to the Parachutist Badges to denote participation in one to four combat parachute jumps, retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.  The fifth combat jump is denoted by a 5/16-inch gold Service Star.
 
 

Hourglass Device 

A 5/16-inch Hourglass Device is worn on the suspension and service ribbons of the
Armed Forces Reserve Medal to denote its award for length of service rather than service in a contingency operation. Under the new guidelines (1996), a bronze Hourglass now represents the first ten years of Reserve service. A silver Hourglass denotes the second ten years of service, and a gold Hourglass, the third ten-year period. Guard and Reserve members who complete 40 years of reserve service will now wear both gold and bronze Hourglasses.
 
 

Mobilization "M" 

The Secretary of Defense and the President authorized the bronze "M" device (Summer 1996) to "...recognize the sacrifice of our National Guard and Reserve people who are mobilized as part of the Total Force."
National Guard and Reserve personnel are authorized to wear the bronze "M" device on the Armed Forces Reserve Medal for service of at least one day of active duty in support of a contingency operation on or after 01 Aug 1990.  At present, this is limited to: The "M" device can be awarded only once for any single operation. However, it may be awarded more than once to members who supported more than one contingency mission. Guard and Reserve members who served in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War, then supported missions in Somalia, Haiti, or Bosnia, qualify for multiple awards.  Second and subsequent awards are denoted by the wear of an Arabic Numeral to the wearer's left of the "M" device.
 
 

Arabic Numerals 

Arabic Numerals 5/16-inch tall are issued instead of a medal or ribbon for second and subsequent awards of the Air Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon. The medal/ribbon denotes the first award and the Numerals, starting with the Numeral '2', denotes the number of additional awards.

The Numeral worn on the NCO Professional Development Ribbon denotes the highest completed level of NCO development.

A Numeral is now worn on the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, in conjuction with the Mobilization "M" Device, to denote the number of contingency operations in which a soldier served subsequent to the operation for which the "M" Device was awarded. The Numeral is to be worn to the wearer's left of the "M" Device.

The Numerals are to be centered on the ribbon when worn alone; when worn with other devices they are to be equal distance from the center and sides of the ribbon.
 

Currently, no more than four appurtenances may be worn on any one ribbon.


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