You're right, and I was brain farting. I was thinking of lesser awards. I can definitely see them presenting a new medal for an ARCOM.

Last for tonight.

Probably more my medals than his.
His brass Nike belt buckle. Can't even begin to tell you how many times I was beaten with this thing. From cutting class to playing with the black kids who's fathers weren't officers, I knew this thing intimately.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1445230381.jpg

And I was presented with 21 of these when they laid him to rest with honors in a National cemetery.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1445230464.jpg

That belt buckle is pretty neat! I didn't know that they got a special buckle.

If you have his records, humbly stumble into the local VFW and explain that you'd like to know what they say. Someone there should be able to shed some light.
If you have to get anything from NPRC, I am thoroughly convinced that calling to check status gets your request moved to the back of the line. It says to allow 10 days before calling, I wouldn't call until it had been 6 or 7 weeks.

I'm pretty stumped by those Jaguar pins. There's some inconsistency in small details that suggest they were made in small batches. All I can think is that they were an unofficial insignia of some sort for segregated units.

I'll see what I can find.
I surely appreciate all the help and Google-Fu from both you gentlemen.
Thank You

Nope, no brain fart there at all, I have seen it both ways. Thought the ceremony where the sailor was given the device reflected poorly on the Command and the Navy, but what the heck, to each his/her own.

Excellent Idea! I work with the son of a highly decorated WWII Captain. Though he is not a vet, he volunteers with the VFW. He often mentions how some of the Vets love to help the families of Vets in any way they can.

I can't speak for the Army, but in the AF, they typically just give you the first (basic) Commendation Medal with presentation set. After that, they present you one in the ceremony, pin it on, but take it back afterwards. The same with any other medal. It would get costly as the sets are pretty pricey.

The kitty cat is an Ocelot: (65th Air Defense Artillery Regiment)
Coat of Arms

Depends on when/where he served:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/65th_Air_Defense_Artillery_Regiment

Might well have done some Hawk missile in Maryland and/or key west:
http://www.missilesofkeywest.bravepages.com/KWdefenses.htm

That would make sense. I know he had some Hawk experience.

The Army typically awards you with the full set each time you earn a commendation. The only difference is it's called out in the paperwork as being "with oak leaf cluster" or "2nd Award," etc.

Darn, that could get expensive. I guess an Army guy needs to put in a suggestion to do it like the AF...might earn them some money. Having a drawer full of full size medals really seems to benefit no one other than the company that makes them(unless you sell them on EBay).