Curry Award and French Legion of Merit.

[Smithsonia]

The Curry Award and French Legion of Merit look identical to me. SEE HERE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg

Given that John Curry received the Legion Of Merit in WW1 (Flying for AAC) He wore the Legion of Merit on his Mess Dress (one row of ribbons of the most prestigious and for a general officer his favorites). Also, it is one of two awards mentioned on his grave marker. This can not be a coincidence.

I have the copy of the letter from 1964 (I think) asking that John Curry's name be used for in connection with the Curry award. There is no mention of the Legion of Merit facsimile in the query to Curry from the National Commander. I am thinking that there must have been some discussions later that settled upon the LM. By the way, to the family of Jack Curry, his response letter has been lost to time. SO, I am trying to figure out this little piece of history.

If it turns out that this was done on purpose then... the Curry is the only ribbon that is identical to Combat
Service Ribbon. (The Legion of Merit is for Meritorious Service to the French but is most often for Combat Personnel on French Soil or in the interests of France) Many ribbons look close... however I think the only one that is identical to a combat ribbon is the Curry.

Let me know what you think.

[NC Hokie]

The Curry ribbon may be inspired by the Legion of Merit ribbon, but it isn't identical.  The white stripes on the Curry ribbon are not at the edge as they are on the Legion of Merit ribbon.

[DC]

There are several instances of CAP ribbons looking very much like RealMilitary awards. I have seen the Curry be mistaken for the Purple Heart as well. The Feik ribbon is also nearly identical to the Navy Recruit Training Service ribbon and the Air Force Training ribbon.

[NIN]

Besides, the original Curry Ribbon was not a solid color. It had two tri-props on it and a big serif letter "C" on it.

Apart from the color, I see no connection.

[Gunner C]

But I think the words "inspired by . . . " are appropriate.  Many times in heraldry there are themes that are used in future emblems.  The connection, I think, is appropriate and probably correct.

[Smithsonia]

There is a deeper little mystery inside my speculation. Carl Spaatz, Ira Eakers, and a few more loved their
French Legions of Merits. Here's Carl Spaatz with his.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet_media.asp?fsID=1131
http://www.spaatz.org/images/spaatzportrait-sm.jpg

Being that these men wore numerous decoration for valor and high service to their own country... I am trying to figure out why the French LM met so much to them. It wasn't the (highest, or) first one if they used our ribbon checker. Is it an expression and reminder of their youthful days gone bye? OR, and this is really out there -- Is it the defenders of Billy Mitchell. The men who spoke on Mitchell's behalf. Eakers, Spaatz, Curry, Olds, Arnold. Each of whom either spoke or prepared the other's to speak on behalf of Billy Mitchell during his court martial.

Is this the sign of the secret and discrete society (a cabal) of loyal but visionary officers who were at risk but untainted by the Mitchell court martial but proceeded to implement Mitchell's teachings? Is this the sign of something more valorous than simply helping France?

Hap Arnold wore his high up but behind his MOH and another award I can't make out. Sorry for the long URL. It's the clearest example of many others I could find.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/images/newphotos/arnold1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/hap_arnold.htm&usg=__tPKP9j9hKegTQmp9JZptP0CjUEU=&h=507&w=391&sz=28&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=UKZy2N4uDUDwEM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhap%2Barnold%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Like I said this is really out there... but that is where we historians often hang out. The French LM could be more meaningful than we have ever imagined and therefore the Curry Award also. On this fanciful speculation I am at work.

Others who fought in WW1 like Patton and MacArthur either didn't wear it in WW2 or had it way down in the lowest rung of their rack. See Patton here: http://www.freeinfosociety.com/media/images/1444.jpg

For more on the topic see here:http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=5582.0

[Cecil DP]

The Legion of Honor as a foreign decoration was worn after all US decorations and service medals. Therefore if you had more than1 row of ribbons it would be on a lower row. The Legion of Merit is an American award which was instituted around 1942. It has 4 degrees Chief Commander-awarded to foreign heads of state or very senior officers, Commander-awarded to foreign service Chiefs or equivelent, Officer, and lastly member. The upper three classes are reserved for non americans and cannot be awarded to americans.  BTW Hap Arnold was never awarded the Medal of Honor. In both WWI and II he was headquartered in Washington, DC. and never served in combat.

[Smithsonia]

Cecil DP thanks for the information.

I've got 24 Generals with their ribbon groups on my computer all blown up to the point where most of their faces are now cut off. Apparently I have a couple misidentified. My pursuit is strictly Legion of Merit and why it was such a big deal to a small (apparently small) group of American WW1 fliers who also served in WW2. And why it seemingly is being worn out of position. I think when I said Arnold, I may have been looking at MacArthur's uniform... but now I can't retrace my steps to the mis-Hap... Arnold, so to speak. Thanks again.

[Smithsonia]

Well after many many hours... about 10 hours of research, I suppose. It turns out that my rash speculation was exactly that.

It is the way of the historian when you find a curiosity and head towards knowledge. It may take many forms and look promising then it goes toward to disappointment and a new understanding develops.

Thanks for all of your help today. I've got what I came for. It appears nothing is out of order what so ever.

Generals Curry, Olds, Arnold, Spaatz, Kenney, Eakers, and Scanlon were all great friends. They hint at one anothers goings-ons on all of their correspondence of a deeper connection than is ever expressed. It is a mysterious and entertaining game of discovery, revelation, research and projection. That said, this line of investigation appears to have been unproductive. Too bad. Thaks again.

[Cecil DP]

I think by virtue of their grade and responsibilities almost all the leading Generals and Admirals received the French Lehion of Honor. With the exception of GA MacArthur, I believe all the leading Generals and Admirals recieved the Legion of Merit. I know that MacArtur didn't receive the Legion of Merit. As for his Medal of Honor, I have never seen a picture of him wearing any decorations on his uniform after the Corrigador campaign. My personal belief is that he was ashamed of having accepted the Medal for his defense of the Phillipines after being ordered to leave for Australia, and leaving his army in the field.

[Smithsonia]

Cecil DP;
I think there is much to discover regarding the decorations/ribbons/awards that each General Officer chooses to wear. AND remember they are making a choice when there is a one row or two row requirement like wearing their khakis or dress mess. General Officers are allowed to embellish their uniforms too. Patton and his pistols, MacArthur and his Philippine Generals Cap are the two best known.

Jack Curry wore shoes that appeared to be picked for comfort... although he was never known to complain about his feet much... I have many pictures of him in non-standard footgear, all civilian looking. Loafers, Wing tips, Slip-ons with Pilgrim buckle .

BUT, the decorations... it says something about the interior life of the man. When presenting themselves before the Army Chief, testifying to Congress, or making a speech at West Point all of these men are straight arrow regulation. BUT, in the field in command, or at a gathering of men they know and like... they pick the ribbons that means something, either to themselves or one another. Figuring that out says something of their interior life and is worth some research. God Bless'em all.

Le May didn't wear his Japanese Campaign Ribbon and neither did Haywood Hansell who was bombing commader before LeMay. (at least on their kakhis/dress mess... and these were MajComms for each.) LeMay wore his China Burma India Theater Ribbon instead. Why? I can guess but don't really know. The Bomb? Maybe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_ribbon.svg

LeMay said; "If we'd lost the war, I'd have been tried as a war criminal. If I didn't use every weapon at my disposal I'd have been tried as a traitor. Traitor or War Criminal? Choices that make their chest heavier than it needs to be I suppose. BUT, these are just my historian guesses.

LeMay wears it here with all his regalia:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Curtis_LeMay_(USAF).jpg
He doesn't appear to be wearing it here:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hI58ti7var8/SWKW1p1iuiI/AAAAAAAAESI/nrnvLv0Lw7U/Curtis+LeMay.jpg
I've got another picture of LeMay in a 2 row set up in khakis - the Japanese Campaign Ribbon is not there but I can't load it. Here's one of Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets with No Pacific Asian Campaign Ribbon http://www.radcomms.net/images/Tibbits.jpg (at least it appears to be missing.) That said according to the awardee list of the PA Ribbon Paul Tibbets did rate it.

I stood over LeMay's grave this past weekend. He is buried at the Air Force Academy. I asked him about his choices. I got no answer.

[Gunner C]

That was a conversation that Curt LeMay had on the other side with his maker.  My guess is that he went into the interview with a clear conscience but a heavy heart.  He was a complex man. 

[Cecil DP]

Yhere was no CBI or Japan Campaign Medals. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was the apropriate medal to show service between Pakistan on the west and the Alaskan Border in the east. Maybe that's why neither LeMAy or Gunter Hansell didn't wear it.. As for MacArthur there are no pictures of his ever wearing any ribbons following his arrival in Australia in 1942 until his death in 1964. He accepted them, but never wore them.   

[C/MSgt Lunsford]

If you take a look at these two, you can see that they are not exactly the same. The silver stripes on the Curry Achievement is toward the center a little bit. On the Legion of Merit the silver stripes are all the way at the end.

Curry:
http://www.mcchord.org/images/ribbons/curry.GIF

Legion of Merit:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg

[DC]

If you take a look at these two, you can see that they are not exactly the same. The silver stripes on the Curry Achievement is toward the center a little bit. On the Legion of Merit the silver stripes are all the way at the end.

Curry:
http://www.mcchord.org/images/ribbons/curry.GIF

Legion of Merit:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg

Yeah, that was pointed out in the first response. Read the entire thread before posting, please.

[C/MSgt Lunsford]

Oh. My Bad. I sorta Skimmed through it.

[Smithsonia]

Cecil DP; I thought that the US picked up the British CBI medal set for themselves. See Here:
http://www.saundersinsignia.com/china-burma-india-with-ribbon-slide-p-10119.html

I've got this one (or what appears to be this one) on lots of GI Generals racks and just figured it was a "thing" like the French Legion. It is similar to the Asia/Pacific Campaign Ribbon but different enough to tell.

Anyway this isn't a central theme to my research... just an occasionally interesting sidelight of ephemeral curiosity. I know of no firm answers but the speculation is entertaining. I keep looking for personal documents
that explain these things. There aren't many. Most often it is a way to remember the men but let the duty (tough job) fade.

[Cecil DP]

Cecil DP; I thought that the US picked up the British CBI medal set for themselves. See Here:
http://www.saundersinsignia.com/china-burma-india-with-ribbon-slide-p-10119.html

I've got this one (or what appears to be this one) on lots of GI Generals racks and just figured it was a "thing" like the French Legion. It is similar to the Asia/Pacific Campaign Ribbon but different enough to tell.

Anyway this isn't a central theme to my research... just an occasionally interesting sidelight of ephemeral curiosity. I know of no firm answers but the speculation is entertaining. I keep looking for personal documents
that explain these things. There aren't many. Most often it is a way to remember the men but let the duty (tough job) fade.

It looks like a commerorative medal, not an actual  DOD approved service medal. You should check one of the military Heraldic web sites to see the actual Asiatic-Pacific Medal. A good place to check the British Empire Medals is the Australian MOD site.