Phil.Commonwealth Army medal ribbons

[79thfoot]

Hi guys,

I was wondering, what would a PCA officer who served in the Visayas (not Bataan), was imprisoned at Capas, released and served with the guerrillas and later assisted MacArthur's forces at Leyte have gotten in the way of medal ribbons - if any - at the time of Philippine Independence 1946?

I've looked at my late grandfather's service records and there doesn't seem to be any mention of medal ribbons awarded even for the campaign. Did Filipino veterans not get any at all? (I distinctly remember some were recommended for some very high honours).

I'd like to put together a medal ribbon rack before I go home.

Thanks,
Tom

[RayAdillO]

Sept 1, 2008 13:38:18 GMT -5 79thfoot said:

Hi guys,

I was wondering, what would a PCA officer who served in the Visayas (not Bataan), was imprisoned at Capas, released and served with the guerrillas and later assisted MacArthur's forces at Leyte have gotten in the way of medal ribbons - if any - at the time of Philippine Independence 1946?

I've looked at my late grandfather's service records and there doesn't seem to be any mention of medal ribbons awarded even for the campaign. Did Filipino veterans not get any at all? (I distinctly remember some were recommended for some very high honours).

I'd like to put together a medal ribbon rack before I go home.

Thanks,
Tom

AWARDS YOUR LATE GRANDAD SURELY IS ENTITLED TO HAVE WORN BASED ON WHAT YOU CURRENTLY KNOW FROM HIS RECORDS. Above is the correct way to display them.


Since he was a POW at Capas:

1) Prisoner of War ribbon (U.S.)

So far, that's his most important citation based on the hierarchy of medals.

Next in order are the campaign medals.

For your grandad's military service in the Philippines between Dec 8, 1941 through 1942:

2) American Defense ribbon (U.S.)

and.....

3) Philippine Defense ribbon (Philippines)

As he was active in the guerillas and/or served with U.S. liberation forces anytime between 1942-45:

4) Philippine Liberation ribbon (Philippines)

5) WW2 Asiatic-Pacific ribbon (U.S.)

He would also be authorized to wear:

6) WW2 Victory ribbon (U.S.)



PROBABLE AWARDS......

If records can prove he was wounded in action anytime in WW2, including injuries during his time as a POW provided these required treatment from a medical officer:

A) Purple Heart ribbon (U.S.)

and......

B) Wounded Soldier's ribbon (Philippines)

If he has a purple heart citation, that would be his highest medal.

If you know more about which unit which he served in, there is a good chance that it may have received a Presidential Unit Citation as a whole unit. If so, he would also be entitled to wear the PUC badge:

1. Presidential Unit Citation Badge (U.S.)

and...

2. Presidential Unit Citation Badge (Philippines)


Note the PUCs are badges not ribbons, so they displayed some space apart the cluster of ribbons.

[79thfoot]

Many many thanks... I've been trying to get info out of my grandma about my late grandpa's records but she can't seem to find them. I'm thinking I'll just get the basic stuff together and add or subtract as new info comes up.

Salutes,
Tom

[RayAdillO]

Oh Tom, there's one more highly probable award you can add to your grandad's rack..............

C) Philippine Independence ribbon (Philippines)

Since he already has a Philippine Defense ribbon and a Philippine Liberation ribbon, provided he was still on the active military list after July 4, 1946.

So let's say even if he resigned his officer's commission or mustered out on July 6, 1946 he still earned this medal.

Good luck finding these ribbons. I salute the memory of your hero grandfather. What was his name and rank?

[79thfoot]

Many thanks guys... It's my hope one day to put together an accurate Phil.Commonwealth Army impression of him (even if I don't have his height, lolz). As far as I can tell from the documents my grandma has, he was a Captain at the surrender in 1942 and his rank was confirmed in 1945 when he served with the returning American forces.

Capt.Delfin Estolloso,
Adjutant 2nd Subsector Negros Sector,
after serving on the staff of the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry, 71st Division.
Imprisoned first in Negros then transferred to Capas and then Los Banos. Released 1943.
March 1945 served with the 1st Replacement Battalion, PA till the end of the war - returned to civilian life April 1946 (so sadly he wasn't able to get that last one mentioned).

[RayAdillO]

Rhino requested.................


Sir I would like to kindly ask you for help because I wanted to do a replica of the medals and ribbons rack that my Grandfather should have or entitled to received on his military service during WW2. My grandfather died when I was a kid so informations regarding his military life is very limited but I found out some documents that may help in my research. I would like to honor him by framing his replica ribbons so future generations in my family will continue to remember him and his sacrifices.

Here are some info's:
1941 - He was called to active duty, Inducted and assigned in Hq & Hq 31st Med. Bn. 31st Div.
1942 - Captured in Bataan became a POW in Camp O'Donnell and was released
1945 - Called back for active duty and was assigned in Alpha Co. 2nd Engr. Const. Bn. He served up to March 1946

Some of the individual decorations, citations and awards he received (He's documents are not complete so I'm hoping if you know if he's also entitled of other ribbons?)

- American Defense Ribbon w 1 bronze star
- Philippine Defense Ribbon
- Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with 1 bronze star
- Distinguish Unit Badge with 2 Oakleaf clusters and citation


Yes Rhino, your grandfather should also be entitled to:

1) The POW ribbon (see #1 above)

2) The WW2 Victory Medal (see #6 above)

For Bataan veterans, the Presidential Unit Citation badge (Distinguished Unit Badge) come in pairs, one is the U.S. version and the other is the Philippine vesion. Units which fought in the Bataan campaign distinguished themselves by being awarded/cited the badge three times, this is why the U.S. version
has two oak leaves. (1st citation is the blue ribbon itself, 2nd and 3rd citations are represented by the 2 oaks leaves)



Bataan veterans are also distinguished by having a small bronze star affixed with the Philippine Defense ribbon, so your grandfather should have that.



For the American Defense ribbon: (see #2 above)

The small bronze star would be affixed at the center of the ribbon as in the Philippine Defense ribbon. It's also the same with the Asiatic Pacific ribbon.

This is how his decorations are displayed:



The oaks leaf clusters and the small bronze stars are hard to come by. You might find the stars on some Vietnam War era ribbons for sale in some online medals and decorations stores, take it off these and emplace them on the ribbons of your grandfather's. www.usamilitarymedals.com/republic-of-vietnam-rvn-gallantry-cross-medal-w-gold-star-ribbon-c-2069_20_1185.html?ummID=f4077db90fdfe3fc97bc96b1edf19a7f

We salute your grandad and thank him for his service to the nation.

[rhino]

Hi Sir Rayadillo,

I'm very thankful on the information and the recognition you gave to my grandad.

Unfortunately we can't find the ribbon and medal of my grandad so I might just have to look for someone who can make replicas here in the Philippines. I just hope I can find one.

Sir may I ask if he is also entitled to have the The Philippine Liberation Medal and Philippine Independence ribbon? I read in his papers that he's date of processed by the RPD was March 14, 1946. Does this mean that this is the date he returned to civilian life? Thanks in advance sir.

[RayAdillO]

Jun 9, 2009 23:58:35 GMT -5 rhino said:

Hi Sir Rayadillo,

I'm very thankful on the information and the recognition you gave to my grandad.

Unfortunately we can't find the ribbon and medal of my grandad so I might just have to look for someone who can make replicas here in the Philippines. I just hope I can find one.

Sir may I ask if he is also entitled to have the The Philippine Liberation Medal and Philippine Independence ribbon? I read in his papers that he's date of processed by the RPD was March 14, 1946. Does this mean that this is the date he returned to civilian life? Thanks in advance sir.

I'm not sure what 'processed by RPD" means. You can ask the PVAO in Manila for confirmation. He is authorized to receive the Philippine Independence medal if he still remained on active list as of July 4, 1946.

But yes there is a possibility that he is authrorized to wear the Philippine Liberation ribbon. Sorry I always assumed before that the Philippine Liberation medal is awarded only to those who were active with any of the recognized guerilla units during the Japanese occupation and liberation campaign.

Since he served in the reconstituted commonwealth army before the end of the war, he may have been eligible, but he must have been called back for active duty and served at least a month (30 days) before September 2, 1945.

Here is the criteria for the Philippine Liberation ribbon/medal..........

CRITERIA

The Philippine Liberation Medal was awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945. In order to qualify, one of the following provisions must be met:

1)Participation in the initial landing operation of Leyte and adjoining islands from October 7-20, 1944; or,


2)Participation in any engagement against the enemy during the Philippine Liberation Campaign; or,

3)Service in the Philippine Islands or in ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period of October 17, 1944 to September 2, 1945.

DESIGNER

The Philippine Defense Medal was designed by Juan Nakpil

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Philippine Liberation Medal is worn after the Philippine Defense Medal and before the Philippine Independence Medal.

DEVICES

Bronze Stars: Individuals eligible under any two of the qualifying provisions listed above are authorized to wear one bronze star on the ribbon. Personnel eligible under all three provisions may wear two bronze stars on the ribbon.

Oh and BTW, this is what the divisional shoulder patch of the 31st Div. P.A. looked like in which your grandfather served during the Bataan campaign.


As you can see, the divisional patch represents the west coast of Luzon. The 31st Division PA was composed of reservists from these provinces.

[79thfoot]

Another quick question guys,

What would the hat cord of a Phil.Army Officer's campaign hat (lemon squeezer) be coloured?

Thanks in advance!
Tom

[RayAdillO]

That will be a blue hat cord Tom.

Sorry for all those photos missing, I can't use photobucket and am limited to villagephotos at 50 per account, multiple accounts whose passwords I don't always remember.

[79thfoot]

Good enough =) I just got into 1/6th scale modelling and recently acquired a lemon squeezer, a M1917 Tommy helmet and a couple of Springfields so I'm gonna try and do up some WW2 Pilipino Fighters!

[Robert Bergstrom]

He is also most probably eligible for the Bronze Star decoration if he was not awarded it already. I had a heck of a time getting it for my dad who was in Patrol Wing Ten (PBY flying boat). The Navy kept telling me that there was not anything in his "fitness report" saying he was eligible for it. It took a FOIA request to make the Navy find their own letter which awarded it to all Marines and Navy personel who were in the Philippines at the start of WW II.

[79thfoot]

Hi Robert,

Would he have been eligible for that even if he wasn't in the Navy or Marines? He was Philippine Commonwealth Army (USAFFE).

[snowpy]

dear mr. rayadillo

i am currently into deep research on philippine medals . am planning to write a book someday. where did you get the info that juan nakpil (phil. national artist for architecture) designed the phil. defense medal/ did he also designed the gold cross, phil. liberation and the military merit medal as well? tnx

[legionnaire]

SNOWPY

p.s. i would like to attach the brochure where nisperos' moh was auctioned but i could not find the icon for attachment.sorry

We have been trying to get in touch with you regarding a the Medal of Honor By Nisperos. But you have not responded regarding the lost medal. Would you be able to help us find who the actioneer was?

pinoyhistory.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history1900morowars&action=display&thread=1809&page=1

Philip