Customer Reviews

The Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the United States Army: World War II to Present

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This is the most complete and detailed book ever published on U.S. Army Military Awards and Insignia. It is lavishly illustrated with original drawings and beautiful color pictures of every medal, badge and insignia in the Army since 1941. The book opens with a short history of US Army insignia starting in 1775 and how they developed war by war up to today. Each period is illustrated with numerous examples. The book then covers all Army branch insignia in detail and the development of both officer and enlisted rank from 1775 to 2001. All skill and combat badges are laid out with criteria and dates to include those which have been discontinued.Every badge is shown in full color. Decorations and medals are displayed in color showing both front and back to include ribbon only awards. Additionally there is a complete ribbon chest in the correct order of precedence for wear. Detail descriptions of the medals cover criteria for award, symbolism of the medal and ribbon and even campaign dates for all service medals. There are special sections on how to detemine what medals a veteran would earn in each conflict as well as sections on How to claim awards from the government and once obtained how to display military awards. The book took 5 years to research and write. With over 140 pages loaded with color illustrations and detail it is an incredible value.

Being an avid collector of US Army medals, badges, uniforms and accoutrements from the Vietnam War period I have found this book to be invaluable in both assisting me to correctly identify items I have in my collection (and want to have!) and telling me about their design and history. The colour plates are just superb as is the informative text. I have not been able to find a better book that comprehensively covers the subject matter as this one does - it takes pride of place in my library and is referred to so often I've had to have it rebound!