Medals - Korean 'Conflict'

[Scrappa]

I am acquiring some Korean era medals (merit, service medals, etc.)
If I can not find who they were issued to and return them what's an honorable way to handle them?

Give to a current veteran?
Donate to a museum (if they'll take them with story)

Thanks

 

[CoastieRon]

How are you "acquiring" them? Personal awards usually have the award recipient's name inscribed on the back. Generic campaign, unit awards will have nothing on it in most cases.

 

[Scrappa]

They're at an antique shop. So, a yard sale, estate sale or consignment maybe. I don't know how they were acquired. But, I am willing to drop money on them in order to get them back to the rightful owner or owners family or to someplace of honor outside of that favored route. I would hate to see them purchased and go unappreciated or used as "decoration".

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/993964_688956664455159_1526285109_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1002883_688956631121829_353505402_n.jpg

 

[CoastieRon]

They're at an antique shop. So, a yard sale, estate sale or consignment maybe. I don't know how they were acquired. But, I am willing to drop money on them in order to get them back to the rightful owner or owners family or to someplace of honor outside of that favored route. I would hate to see them purchased and go unappreciated or used as "decoration".

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/993964_688956664455159_1526285109_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1002883_688956631121829_353505402_n.jpg

Good on you.

The Korean conflict on is going to be a tough one, it looks like a unit award.

The WWII one is definitely a personal award, you might get lucky and there may be a name inscribed on the back.

 

[Obie1]

I've got both of those on the wall in the guest bedroom where my uncle, who earned them, spent his final days. (Along with his CIB, Bronze Star, and other awards and decorations.)

 

[Picton]

The Korean War medal is not very rare, and the odds of it having a name are slim.

The other medal looks like a Navy/MC Commendation Medal with V. The Army didn't start adding V devices to their version of this medal until Vietnam, so...

Remember when Admiral Boorda committed suicide back in '96 or so? He did it because he was wearing this medal with an unauthorized combat V. I'm fairly certain the V wasn't awarded on anything until well past WWII, but of course the vet that earned this one may have applied for it later on. Then, it would still be a "WWII award," though that particular medal would be a lot newer.

If it was sold with a Korean War medal, the commendation medal was probably a Korean award as well. Otherwise, the seller would probably have had some WWII campaign medals or a Victory Medal with it.

I'd be surprised if either of these medals could give you a clue as to who earned them. The soldier's name goes on the certificates which accompany these.