Ever since I joined the military I was always told the clasp on your ribbon rack was called a frog. Yesterday my office tried to find the history of the name, and we were unsuccessful. We did find they are called by non-military persons a military clutch or butterfly clutch.

So I have two questions for everyone.

First what do you call the clasp used to hold your ribbon rack in place?

Second does anyone have any idea when the clasp began to be called frogs?

TSgt Charles Mayfield
Gunter AFB

I always called it a turtle.

Just a SWAG, but maybe the frog reference has something to do with another military item called a bayonet frog. It is a leather or web contraption that goes on a belt. Some, usually European, bayonets have a scabbard that does not have a belt loop, it's just metal, with a little stud-like tab on the side, near the mouth. The scabbard is slid into the frog, which is attached to the belt. The tab fits into a hole on the frog, and it is held to the belt this way. Since it holds a sharp object, maybe the similarity in name??? Dunno.

While I know they are named Frogs, I've always known them as "dammits"

quote:

Originally posted by CMayfield1967:
Ever since I joined the military I was always told the clasp on your ribbon rack was called a frog. Yesterday my office tried to find the history of the name, and we were unsuccessful. We did find they are called by non-military persons a military clutch or butterfly clutch.

So I have two questions for everyone.

First what do you call the clasp used to hold your ribbon rack in place?

Second does anyone have any idea when the clasp began to be called frogs?

TSgt Charles Mayfield
Gunter AFB

Hello TSgt, and welcome to the Boards. You might also post your question in the Army Section---> sub-section "Awards and Uniforms". Someone may have some info.

We are not allowed to post "Hot Links" to other websites anymore--- ( or the Admin/Mods can spank you, and send you to bed without dessert!) ... so I went to Google and typed in: frog clasp . Clicked the mouse, and Viola! There are several things with pictures to help you out.

The Button Drawer.com Some "frogs" shown--- along with other "clasp" type closures. This is what I think of as a "frog"... a large cord/woven/braided thing to take the place of a button.

The Find.com { Like the above mentioned site}

marlow white.com {Dress Uniforms---Look for the Army Dress Blue Cape... It uses a "frog" closure.}

For the other kind of "Frog" that Gene Shubeck mentioned, try looking at/typing in on Google:

Military gun Supply.com {Look for Mauser Bayonet Frog.}

Sportman's guide.com { Swiss bayonet and "Frog"}

Hope those help you ... but I'm quite certain that what you attach your ribbons with in the USAF (my Son is an AF TSgt. near Fairbanks) is the same thing the Army uses. Metal or plastic ribbon racks with two built-in pins that go thru the shirt/coat and are affixed with a little metallic clasp that you push together, then release to grasp the protruding pin. It's no bigger than a pencil eraser across.

Swremwin,

Thanks for the welcome. We did all the searches you suggested and never came up with a picture of the item that holds your ribbon rack on your uniform. Which is why the question here. We did find all the cloth and button references with the name of frog, most were oriental designs. We are looking for a reference to where the name "frog" came from in describing the button like clasp that holds your ribbon rack on.

TSgt Mayfield