[Don Carlos]

Not being with any military experience I don't know what to make of his claim that ribbons and medals are viewed absolutely interchangeably.

For each medal, you get a ribbon. The medal is the same ribbon, with a metal medallion hanging from it. All medals have a corresponding ribbon. All ribbons, however, do not have a medal. For example, Good Conduct, National Defense, etc, are ribbons that do not have a corresponding medal.

Ribbons are worn on class "A" or 'tunic and tie' uniforms and occasionally on shirt-sleeve semi-dress uniforms, but NEVER on BDU or utility dress fatigues. Remember the JF'nK photos of him in BDU with his ribbons? It aint done, ever! Medals are generally worn on formal occasions only.

[Terry Mross]

Actually, the National Defense award does come with a medal. During the Viet Nam war if you enlisted and completed basic training you got a ND medal. Well, everyone in the Navy got one anyway.

I was told you NEVER where them with civilian clothes or work uniforms unless you were on watch where you might greet the public. Now, keep in mind, the Navy has work uniforms that are, or were, identical to dress blues except there was no piping on the collar. You were allowed to wear the ribbons with this uniform. I never did but I saw others wearing them. But you NEVER wear ribbons with dungarees or utilities (green).

[prairiebreeze]

So, medals and ribbons aren't really interchangeable then, if there are ribbons that don't have corresponding medals. Am I reading you correctly?

Also interesting about the BDU pictures of Kerry. Undoubtedly photo-op material.

Prairie

[Bob]

For example, Good Conduct, National Defense, etc, are ribbons that do not have a corresponding medal.

Beg to differ. I have a both Good Conduct Medal (actually, just barely) and a National Defense Service Medal. (There's another green and white striped medal but I think that was issued by Vietnam rather then the U.S. It's got a map of VN on the front and the words "Chien-Dich", "Boi-Tinh", and "Viet-Nam" on the back. And, no, I have no idea what that means.)

For some reason, I only have those three medals to go with six ribbons. I really ought to look them up to refresh my memory on what the heck they are.