Below are what I have been able to identify.
Ron Carlson
*****
Top row, medals, left to right
Army Good Conduct Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Conduct_Medal_%28United_States%29
The corresponding service ribbon appears above https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_ribbon
A miniature service ribbon on a pin appears below
World War II Victory Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_Victory_Medal_%28United_States%29
The corresponding service ribbon appears above
Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic%E2%80%93Pacific_Campaign_Medal
The corresponding service ribbon appears above
American Campaign Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Campaign_Medal
he corresponding service ribbon appears above
Bronze Star Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Star_Medal
The corresponding service ribbon appears above
A miniature service ribbon on a pin appears below
Middle row
U.S. Army service stripe denoting 3 years’ service per stripe; worn on left sleeve of uniform jacket
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_stripe
Below the World War II Victory Medal and the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal are three service ribbons side-by-side. I cannot identify the left and right ribbons but the center ribbon appears to be the service ribbon corresponding to the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, with the colors somewhat faded. Compare with the same service ribbon above the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal. In the center of this ribbon is a small bronze star, known as a service star. A service star was awarded in lieu of awarding some other medal a second time (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_star). Therefore your grandfather apparently earned two Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medals, the first award being the medal itself with a second award denoted by the service star. The Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and other similar campaign medals were “I was there” medals, signifying that the individual had served during the war for a certain length of time in a particular geographic area. Note also that the right-hand service ribbon also has a service star, indicating that your grandfather earned that award, whatever it is, two times. Also note that some minor military decorations are ribbon-only decorations and do not have a corresponding medal.
Below the three service ribbons just discussed is the service ribbon for the World War II Victory Medal; compare with the service ribbon above that medal. I don’t know why your grandfather would have two service ribbons for this medal, since a person presumably received this award only once.
There are two small metallic items, the left one reading USA with a single chevron, pointed down, on short chains below, the other reading USA with a single chevron, pointed up, with the block letter T on short chains below. I do not know what these are. A single chevron by itself would indicate a private first class; I don’t know what the addition of the letter T would indicate. I am not certain that these are official military devices but may have been purchased or obtained privately. Between the two is a small Christian cross. I question whether the cross would have been part of an official military uniform, except in the case of a chaplain.
Below are two larger round devices. The block “U.S.” was worn on the right collar of the uniform jacket. The “flaming bomb” was worn on left collar of the uniform jacket and indicated the wearer was in the Ordnance Branch. https://www.usamilitarymedals.com/products/ordnance-branch-insignia
To the right is a cloth patch with two chevrons with a block letter T below. This is the rank insignia for a U.S. Army technician fifth grade (also Tec5 or tech corporal). The rank was discontinued after World War II. (My late father, an infantryman in the South Pacific, had the same rank.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technician_fifth_grade
Bottom row, patches, left to right
Red / white numeral 2
U.S. 2nd Army (while in stateside training)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_United_States_Army#World_War_II
Vertical lightning bolt through blue star with five smaller blue stars
I have not been able to identify this patch
Six-pointed star outlined in red, capital letter A in red in center
U.S. 6th Army (which operated in the Pacific Theater, 1943-1945)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_United_States_Army
Gold laurel wreath on olive-drab background
U.S. Army World War II Meritorious Unit Citation
http://www.militaryvetspx.com/wwmucremipa.html
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