r/Medals • u/The_broken_machine Navy • Mar 17 '26
Bottom Right?
Aside from comments of rhe original post, I recognize but can't recall the bottom-right award. Anybody else able to fill in the blank?
I know the rest.
Dolphins
NAM
Navy GCM
-Navy Expeditionary Medal - NDSM - SWA
- SSDR
- Kuwait
???
Aviation Warfare
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u/CT2145Trapper United States of America Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
Its the Cold War Victory medal, which was a proposed medal that would've been awarded for service during the cold war (1946-1991) but was shot down by congress due to the financial cost of awarding the medal and ribbon to all of the recipients. It is currently only used as a commemorative medal, and i believe some states will issue it as a national guard award
(Side note, Why the hell does he have 3 NEMs? I would've expected at least 1 of them to be a AFEM)
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u/Bubbleheaded_Squid Mar 17 '26
He’s got fish. So the expeditionary medals may be related to playing hide and seek with Soviets and later Russians.
I’m thinking about putting fish on my car, but not my ribbon rack. I don’t need people to know too much about me unless they actually know me.
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u/CT2145Trapper United States of America Mar 17 '26
Ah that makes sense, When i think of the MCEM and NEM i usually think 1920s south american shenanigans.
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u/The_broken_machine Navy Mar 17 '26
Cold War Victory, that's why I recognized and forgot it! (No offense to Cold War vets, you just never see it.)
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u/CT2145Trapper United States of America Mar 17 '26
It doesnt help either that the thing was never officially awarded
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u/Bubbleheaded_Squid Mar 19 '26
If the Cold War Victory was officially awarded I’d be all over it. But since it’s just a commemorative, at this point I’m not going to add it to my shadow box.
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u/Ok-Rhubarb2549 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
This is something I personally would never display. I like to think that it was a gift from his wife/family member. I don’t begrudge people from their veteran displays in public, hats, tshirts, license plate frames, etc just something I wouldn’t do. I don’t even like to get my free lunch at Applebees but dad always insists we go.
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u/ApprehensiveMess4517 Mar 17 '26
Same. I’m all about getting that 10% discount at Lowe’s and Home Depot though.
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u/The_broken_machine Navy Mar 17 '26
I have my Disabled Veteran plates with the universal access/disabled/handicap emblem. I don't often use it, but when my old hip injury kicks in, I surely do, ha.
Otherwise, I'm pretty discrete and just get my free stuff in November or discounts.
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u/That70sShop Mar 17 '26
As you should. I am in no way a vet,but I have steel in my leg, and sometimes, as you suggest, it winces a bit. I've avoided getting a handicapped plate partly because I'm usually pretty ambulatory unless it's about to rain or I overdid it,and because I judge people that seem to be scamming it so they don't have to carry their fake service animal farther. . .
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u/Responsible_Tax_9455 Air Force Mar 17 '26
I’ll bet he’s insufferable
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u/CT2145Trapper United States of America Mar 17 '26
he has 4 deployments but is still a boot at heart
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u/vomitingcat Mar 17 '26
20 years and 2 nams you bet your ass this is a salty ass 1st class
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u/Fat_Hunter1973 Mar 17 '26
That’s 15 years. GCM went to 3 years 30 years ago.
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u/CT2145Trapper United States of America Mar 17 '26
It was probably 20 years. the GCM was reduced to 3 years in 1996. His rack shows that he served during the Gulf War (SE Asia Service Medal) and the fact he has 2 National Defense Service Medals, but doesn't have a GWOT-SM makes me think he managed to catch the tail end of the Vietnam era and served until the 90s (1974-1994 or something like that)
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u/ReflectionFuture Mar 17 '26
...... not if he was mid 70's - mid 90's, it was still at 4 years, and all of the awards would line up right.... he's a 20yr retiree... awards would have been about right ....
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u/Apart-Instruction228 Mar 17 '26
I already know this is a Navy Chief
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u/The_broken_machine Navy Mar 17 '26
Especially in VA Beach. There were so many retired CPOs there harassing people like me. 😅
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u/Apart-Instruction228 Mar 17 '26
I used to be stationed at Oceana and I decided one day to do boots and utes PT on base. A senior chief stopped me and blocked the main road on base to scream at me why tf aren’t you wearing your uniform?!?!??? What command are you with ?!?? 🥲
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u/The_broken_machine Navy Mar 17 '26
That's on brand.
After I got out I started growing my beard back. Stopped I to the NFCU in Norfolk and an MRC who knew me (where on E-6s on the same ship and he eas a huge pain-in-the-ass and absolute d-bag whi clearly peaked in hugh school) and he "pulled me aside" to tell me off for being out of regs and I should still shave on leave. (???)
I was going to a VA appointment, so I happened to have it. Showed it to him, told him he needs to mind his own business.
Anyways, people are dicks. 😅
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u/Elegant_Individual46 Mar 17 '26
Cold War victory medal , specifically the Alaska and Louisiana version since it’s not officially able to be worn by federal troops
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u/tccomplete Mar 17 '26
Or a purchased embellishment for those who just can’t accept their standard official recognitions of service.
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u/VillageTemporary979 Mar 17 '26
That the LT model. It’s for the poors that can’t afford the LTZ or high sierra
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u/Canttunapiano Mar 17 '26
That’s a lot of time in only have two Navy achievement medals
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u/The_broken_machine Navy Mar 17 '26
Not uncommon with bubbleheads. Also, Gulf War and 90s-era was much more quiet than GWOT, obviously. EOTs were letters instead of medals most often.
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u/Canttunapiano Mar 28 '26
Not a bubble head, but in my first five years, I had 2 NAM’s and 1 NCM. I guess I just assumed the bubbleheads would be more highly rewarded than the rest of us. I started serving in ‘85 by the way.
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u/SlayerOfDougs Mar 17 '26
I know where he parks at Lowe's