Oak Leaf Clusters on Medals

New Member

posted

This is my first post on this forum. Glad I found it.

I'm familiar with how oak leaf clusters are mounted on "ribbons," but unsure how they should be mounted on the actual medals.

On ribbons, multiple OLCs abut each other with no space between them. However, on the actual medal suspension, I have seen them spaced further apart at times. I have 3 awards of the DFC (2 OLC) and before I ruin the medal by punching thru the cloth, I'd like to know the proper placement.

Can someone point me to a publication, etc. that covers this? Thanks in advance.

Posts: 5 | Registered: Fri 01 October 2010

FormerEmbassyMarine

"A Marine on duty has no friends."

posted

AR 670-1 is your reference:

quote:
a. Oak leaf clusters.
(1) A bronze twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on each stem is worn to denote award of second and succeeding awards of decorations (other than the Air Medal), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and unit awards. A silver oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters. It is worn to the wearer’s right of a bronze oak leaf cluster and to the left of the “V” device. Oak leaf clusters, 5/16 inch in length, are worn on service ribbons, the suspension ribbon of miniature medals, and unit awards. Oak leaf clusters, 13/32 inch in length, are worn on the suspension ribbon of full-size medals. Oak leaf clusters 5/16 inch in length, joined together in series of two, three, and four clusters, are authorized for optional purchase and wear on service ribbons and unit award emblems. Personnel wear oak leaf clusters centered on the service ribbon and suspension ribbon, with the stems of the leaves pointing to the wearer’s right. If four oak leaf clusters are worn on the suspension ribbon on either full-size or miniature medals, the fourth one is placed above the middle one in the row of three. No more than four oak leaf clusters can be worn side-by-side on service ribbons.

Note the OLC size difference for full medals compared to ribbons.

Center them on the ribbon.

Since the 13/32 OLCs may not be joined together like the 5/32 OLCs can, space them evenly apart, but centered.

Read the reg a few times before placing them on the ribbon and make sure you have the correct size.

Here is an example on spacing:

Posts: 9206 | Registered: Sat 01 July 2006

Ignored post by FormerEmbassyMarine posted

New Member

posted

Thanks big time for the reply!! That's exactly what I needed to know. Now I have another question.

I'd like to place the medals in a wall mounting spaced apart like your fine illustration. I searched the web, and only found companies that "hung" them in one or two rows abutting each other. Do you know of any companies that will mount them spaced apart as you have shown?

Thanks again for your quick reply and info on the clusters.

Posts: 5 | Registered: Fri 01 October 2010

Ignored post by G26ster posted

FormerEmbassyMarine

"A Marine on duty has no friends."

posted

No, I know of no other websites that will mount medals.

DIY, it is cheaper.

Double sided tape squares worked for me.

Posts: 9206 | Registered: Sat 01 July 2006

Ignored post by FormerEmbassyMarine posted

New Member

posted

Good idea, thanks.

Posts: 5 | Registered: Fri 01 October 2010

Ignored post by G26ster posted

FormerEmbassyMarine

"A Marine on duty has no friends."

posted

I cut the tape squares to match the suspension ribbon and the medal.

Posts: 9206 | Registered: Sat 01 July 2006

Ignored post by FormerEmbassyMarine posted

redleg13f

Member

posted

Some local shops that do framing will also make shadow boxes. Style, quality and cost will obviously vary from place to place, but at least you'll be able to talk to someone in person to get it the way you want. Those that I've seen do it have samples of their work so you know how their workmanship is if you want to have it done rather than do-it-yourself.

You'll probably have to know order of precedence, the oak leaf situation as you described, and other details in order for them to get it right unless they have a knowledgeable Vet working there.

Posts: 1381 | Registered: Mon 06 March 2006

Ignored post by redleg13f posted

New Member

posted

quote:
redleg13f

Thanks redleg13f.

No problem with order of precedence or clusters, etc.

Posts: 5 | Registered: Fri 01 October 2010

Ignored post by G26ster posted

edl3

New Member

posted

Medals of America sells and mounts medals. Looks like a pretty good outfit.

medalsofamerica.com

Posts: 249 | Registered: Mon 11 April 2005

Ignored post by edl3 posted

snakebite1

New Member

posted

quote:
Originally posted by FormerEmbassyMarine:
No, I know of no other websites that will mount medals.

DIY, it is cheaper.

Double sided tape squares worked for me.

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bla bla bla, haha look cut paste, heh he ha, i have nothing better to do then cut and paste hahahahahhahahhahhahahahahahahhihiahiahaihaihaiahihaihihaihaihaaiaihaiahhhhhhhiahahahahahahahahahaheheeheehhheeheheeeheheheheheheheheh haaaaaaaaaaaheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhooooooooooooo

Posts: 8 | Registered: Fri 22 October 2010

Ignored post by snakebite1 posted

shuman14

Highly Experienced Member

posted

What the frac dude? Are you trying to be a troll?

Posts: 10333 | Registered: Sun 07 March 2004

Ignored post by shuman14 posted