US Veterans, militaria, etc...

[Tarheel]

Viet Nam vets seem to be the worst about wearing their items of uniform in unauthorized ways, and most likely to get militant about it. Don't follow their lead.

I concur, being from that era, but some of us still honor the rules. My photo (posted here) was during a Veterans Day event two years ago. My "Ike" jacket lives in the closet except for three days a year.
I have mini medals for my blue semi/formal jacket (haven't had an occasion to wear them with it yet.)

[Cavalry Scout]

I concur, being from that era, but some of us still honor the rules. My photo (posted here) was during a Veterans Day event two years ago. My "Ike" jacket lives in the closet except for three days a year.
I have mini medals for my blue semi/formal jacket (haven't had an occasion to wear them with it yet.)

No one should be wearing unit awards who was not in the unit when the awards were earned.

-Mark-

[kiltimabar]

Somebody always quotes Army regulations about the wearing of medals with civilian attire. I submit that these regulations are intended to apply to those persons currently serving, and the military, concerned about their personnel appearing in a consistent manner, are seeking to regulate their appearance and one cannot argue with their authority to do so.

Once a veteran has been discharged, I do not believe that one is restricted to such a limited standard. Some time ago, a US Seceretary of Veterans affairs issued a statement encouraging vererans to wear their awards on appropriate patriotic occasions. I believe these occasions could include many events in addition to national holidays. These awards were given to YOU as a personal gift from a grateful nation in recognition of service or personal valor, and you can display or wear them on any appropriate occasion.

Appropriate? Who decides? Holidays, ceremonies, rememberances--I notice that Briitish veterans seem to wear them more often than Americans. Consider that yes, veterans CAN wear their complete former uniform on appropriate occasions, but some times it would be appropriate, other times not, and certainly not all the time. Common sense would be the guide

[SandSailor'00]

I think my initial question has been answered...at least to my satisfaction. It goes without saying that no serving member should blend uniform with non-uniform, and I don't see anything in my question alluding to the wearing of awards not properly earned. As to disregarding regulations and doing what one will anyhow...that attitude (whether right or wrong), would, in my humble opinion, make such a question superfluous.

One sees a great many things...some, seem to be "good" things, but have no clear justification-Others, just look "wrong" from the get-go. Every Veterans' Day/Memorial Day, walk around my town and you'll see a whole lot of older gents wearing a plethora of "non-regulation" attire. My wife's grandfather (Marine infantry, wounded in the Pacific) has no problem wearing his Purple Heart in full size on a Wal-Mart suit coat...my father in law wears his SSG chevrons on a ball cap...and my father, a former 82nd NCO, often wears his father's (killed in '44) old flight jacket, complete with the old Stirling silver AAC wings. At our local Highland games, you'll see everything from the SAMS guys in their khaki shirts with ribbons, and men wearing the green 95th Regt. of Rifles shell jacket with great kilt and broadsword....to one man I saw wearing a Prince Charlie with the "correct" awards for a US Army infantry officer of the Cold War-but wearing UK colonel's pips on his shoulders.

For my part, I would rather avoid wearing even the "approved" lapel pin devices if someone would be dishonored, offended, or put-off by it.

True enough, once fully a civilian...so long as one isn't pretending to have earned something they haven't, it's pretty hard to see how there's any official application...let alone "enforcement" of military regulations. My question stems more from questions of style and propriety associated with clothing that is, in and of itself, deeply rooted in a foreign military tradition.

Again...I feel I have been provided excellent answers and guidance.

Dizzy

[Profane James]

In the interest of smashing 'zero tolerance' ideals to bits, it would seem worthy to weigh intent and context...
In the interest of being objective, it would be worth the time and effort to know the 'why' behind the regulation...

[Steve Ashton]

"it would be worth the time and effort to know the 'why' behind the regulation..."

Knowing the why behind Military Regulations? Surely you jest.

[Tarheel]

In the interest of being objective, it would be worth the time and effort to know the 'why' behind the regulation...

If there isn't a copy in (white, pink, blue, green and sickly orange) you'll find the answer in RED tape. That's what a Drill Sergeant told me once.

[Profane James]

My ignorance shows...
I speak as one of the few men of my family who have not served in the military.
That being my reality, I do assume there is a standard of display when the families that have endured the military life alongside the soldier are asked to represent at such an occasion.

[Loxlie]

No one should be wearing unit awards who was not in the unit when the awards were earned.

-Mark-

Agreed. My first unit had been awarded the Meritorious Unit Award w/Oak Cluster and I had to remove it when I pcs'd to another unit.

[Jmc0369]

As Steve said, "don't get to wrapped around the axle". Those regs are for active duty and those still in the mindless mindset. As USMC General Smedley Butler said. He didn't have an independent thought till the day he retired. You earned em, wear em as you wish. Even those disenfranchised Vietnam veterans were/are valid in expressing them selves in however they wish as far as wearing their property goes.

Having served in the USA (U.S. Army) prior to retiring from the USMC; I thought the USMC regulation made so much more sense in regard to unit awards. You only wore unit awards if you were part of what that unit got awarded for. And if so, you wore it for life as opposed to the army where you always wore unit awards it just was just over the right breast pocket and they came and went with unit assignment. The Army dogs take a lil more pride in their unit and Marines more so in the Corps. Which in my opinion is why the standard of execution was generally higher in the Corps than the Army. I saw very average units and very exceptional units in the Army whereas my experience in the Corps was much more flat. From one unit to the next very similar culturally. I guess to back my point, the Ranger Regiment has higher standards of leadership and physical fitness than a run of the mill Battalion in a PIR of the 82d, and much more so than a leg infantry Bn say at Polk. Even Pogues in Alaska's parachute units were very different than the same MOS pogues in the 2nd Infantry Division.

Anywho, that's just one retired Jarheads observations. And I have very fond memories of my Army experiences. Its funny how driving through the gate at Ft Bragg evokes a completely different sensory memory experience from driving through the gate at Pendleton or LeJuene.