In regards to the Combat Action Ribbon: It indicates that those who recaive it have been in sea and/or land combat. It is issued to Sailors AND Marines for such actions.
I received the CAR in the year 2000 from the Chief of Naval Operations.
The CAR is, I believe, a relatively new award and Congress made the CAR award retroative to WWII Sailors and Marines several years ago. I was made aware of it and submitted my "paperwork"along with my discharge, etc.,and Lo and Behold not long after I received by mail a very nice letter and a Combat Action Ribbon.
If anyone has questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
This award was for Combat with Convoy UGS-40 on 11 May 1944 off North Africa. It was believed to be the most severe attack by enemy aircraft against a single Merchant ship convoy in WWII. Forthermore we shot down more enemy aircraft in a single battle than any other Merchant convoy during the war.
Samuel Morison, noted Naval historian, wrote in Volume 10, US Naval Operations in WWII, about this battle.
I would be happy to make copies of those pages of that history for anyone them if you Email me.
Incidentally, 11 May 1944 was the evening before my 18th bitrhday! Herr Goering certainly gave me a great birthday party!
God Bless all.
Roy Brown
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