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Identification of Navy pins

qsecofr
I need some assistance in determining if these Navy pins are legitimate. Can someone with Navy experience look at this video and tell me if this looks right to you?

I used to work with this person and for some reason it just does not make sense to me that he would be a decorated Navy man. Maybe I am wrong.

This video is of "GMCM Larry Van Schuyver"


http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1243657904&channel=713285227&lineup=1137792392

Thanks!!!
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Comments

41 comments

Date Votes
  • givette
    Bottom oval may be a recruiting pin. Above that may be the surface warfare pin (didn't exist when I was in). Can't tell about the ribbons. Looked for the USN good conduct medal, and any medal with a "V" device (combat) on it. Due to poor photo quality, couldn't distinguish. Best, Joe
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  • River Rat
    Hard to tell. dur to picture size and clarity. Do you have reason to suspect he got some of these out of a gumball machine?

    By "pins," do you include his ribbons? There is a yellowish one in the upper center that looks a lot like the Vietnam Campaign ribbon, but if he's been in the Navy 28 years that would have him joining up in 1979 (depends on when this was filmed). He'd be too late for that one. Sure does have a LOT of ribbins, which can make one suspicious.

    The collar tabs appear to be CPO pins. No surprise there. The silver pin could be anything -- submarine, surface, whatever -- but I seem to recall those are worn above the ribbons, not below. I never had anything like that, so never gave it much thought.

    I'm a poor one to ask, just a dumb E-5. Got out of active in 73, out of reserves in 79, so the memory's not good. And stuff changes.
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  • River Rat
    Gse, I took another look at the video, expecially the ribbons. I don't think I've seen so many -- except on General MacArthur. Haile Selassie maybe. The bottom two rows, the dark ones, look like some kind of unit "Excellence" awards. What gives with the little gold badge? Looks like a Sheriff's off-duty badge, but then he says he was in law enforcement.

    If I was psychoanalyzing this guy, which I by the way am unqualified to do, I would say he is a hog for recognition. Like those guys who cover their office walls with diplomas and certificates. Everything he is wearing is probably legit, but would only be worn by generals who are attending state dinners.

    Like a hunter who is judged by the shots he does not take, a military man might be judged by the laurels he does not wear. I just made that up, but I think it's pretty good.
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  • HandgunHTR52
    The big oval pin on his pocket is a Command Master Chief pin. He is a Gunners Mate Master Chief (E-9).

    All of the ribbons look legit. I see a Kuwait Liberation ribbon, a Vietnam service ribbon, a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), a Navy Unit Commendation ribbon (NUC), a Navy Achievement Medal (NAM), a Battle Efficiency ribbon (Battle "E"), a National Defense Medal ribbon, a Combat action ribbon, a Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal ribbon(Comm), a Meritorious Service Medal ribbon, a Global War on Terror Service Medal ribbon, and a Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon. Those are the ones I can identify.

    He does seem to have too many weapon Expert ribbons though (the ones on the bottom). There are only two available, rifle and pistol. They have the silver "E"s in them designating Expert (the highest score).
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  • HandgunHTR52
    River Rat - In regards to your comment about having that many ribbons, I knew a Master Chief in Orlando that was a Seal. He had so many ribbons and medals that he had to wear some on the right side of his uniform. He hated wearing all of them. You are only required to wear the top three rows in your kakhis, but have to wear them all when in a dress uniform.
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  • Flyin_Paulie
    Can't tell, the pic isn't good enough to really see em all. My first thought was that he should put em in a display case. From what I could see, there was nothing significent (like a Navy Cross, Silver Star, Air Medal, etc.) Maybe he was a recruiter.
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  • bobski
    full dress dress uniform calls for medals on left, ribbons on right. you never wore extras on the other side. i cant get videos to work on my machine. can someone copy a still pic here and i'll tell you about the marksman ribbons.
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  • HandgunHTR52
    Bobski - I was referring to when he was wearing ribbons only. You can only fit 12 rows of ribbons on one side, IIRC. I don't think that they make a 13 or 14 row ribbon rack.
    I was also refering to dress uniforms, not full dress. We wore dress uniforms for graduation ceremonies (i.e. ribbons only), which was every Friday at NNPTC.

    I can't get a still photo, but he his bottom row and one ribbon on the second row look like weapons qualification ribbons. All of them have what look to be an "E" on them. Total of four ribbons. There isn't enough detail to tell for sure. I am only aware of an pistol and a rifle ribbon (medal).
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  • guntech59
    Don't know about the Navy but the Army also had MG and hand grenade.
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  • bobski
    if you fill your rack, you delete and go to 3 racks as mentioned. you dont put them over on the other side.

    can anyone out there get a still shot of that bottom row? i was working on a shotgun ribbon when i was in...but it never took off. last i knew of in 97 was rifle pistol as well. he might have gotten COAST GUARD ribbons from prior service.
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  • HandgunHTR52
    When I left the "Canoe Club" in 2001 all we had was the rifle and pistol.
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  • qsecofr
    Thanks everyone. I am not trying to trash this guy in the video. I worked with him a while back and I honestly do not believe he has been with the military long enough to have that many pins and ribbons on his uniform. It is VERY suspicious to me. I would not be suprised to learn that most of those are not supposed to be there.
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  • bobski
    ask him if he got coasty ribbons for shooting!
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  • JamesRK
    I can't tell much from this video, but it appears that he is at least consistent with what he says he is. The badge on his pocket is the Command Master Chief Badge. The badge on his pocket flap looks like it could be a submarine patrol badge. If that is what it is, he should be wearing the submarine dolphins, possibly under the shirt collar.

    The funniest poser I ever saw was a guy claiming to be a Vice Admiral wearing a Command Master Chief Badge.

    Most posers rat themselves out with simple things which stand out like a sore thumb to anyone familiar with the uniform. I don't see anything that jumps out with this guy.

    still.jpg

    Sub1.jpg

    Sub2.jpg
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  • bobski
    even it was coasty ribbons, it just doesnt look right on the bottom.
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  • HandgunHTR52
    The other thing that I did't see was a Good Conduct ribbon with a bunch of stars on it. He should have gotten one after his first four years and then a star for every 4 years he was in (unless he was in after 1996 when they changed it to one every 3)after that. It is a solid maroon color.
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  • kiwibird1
    Also just went to the togetherweserved.com navy site and his name does not come up. But he may not have joined.

    Edit: I miss spelled his name. He is on that site, but no info on his profile.
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  • bobski
    all bronze good conduct stars become one big silver star when its 20 years.
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  • larry van schuyver
    quote:Originally posted by qsecofr
    I need some assistance in determining if these Navy pins are legitimate. Can someone with Navy experience look at this video and tell me if this looks right to you?

    I used to work with this person and for some reason it just does not make sense to me that he would be a decorated Navy man. Maybe I am wrong.

    This video is of "GMCM Larry Van Schuyver"


    http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1243657904&channel=713285227&lineup=1137792392

    Thanks!!!
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  • larry van schuyver
    I'm GMCM VAN SCHUYVER and wanted to answer your questions about my uniform. Ist thing is If I worked with you in the past was I mean to you? take your lunch money? Because your questions seemed to be slanderous to me and not one of seeking knowlege. However I will try to answer your post, first I'm authorized to wear the following pins the Navy Command Master-Chief Pin, the Navy Small craft pin, The Navy new Exp Warfare Pin which came out this last year while I was Command Master-Chief of Inshore Boat Units. I can send you name of all the boat board menbers if you would like me to. I have over the last 29 yrs recieved 28 service ribbons which all all shown on my last 3 DD-214 if you want to see them? Also I have been Command Master-Chief in 2 Joint command unit which entitled you to awards from that service. I'm proud of my service and awards but more proud of the awards and promotions I have helped other to obtain. If you are honest enough to ask me questions please contact me at gmcme9@yahoo.com I love the chance to talk to you about any question you have about my honor. Shame on you for such childlish behaviour I myself would rather be honoring our veterans. As a Navy rangemaster for over 20 yrs,can answer any questions other might have about marksmanship awards..It has been my honor to review other veterans records to help them make chief petty officers and part of that process is having them do my record and in the last 15 yrs as a chief in the US Navy no one has found my record to be not in ship top shape ( for your information). GMCM
    quote:Originally posted by qsecofr
    I need some assistance in determining if these Navy pins are legitimate. Can someone with Navy experience look at this video and tell me if this looks right to you?

    I used to work with this person and for some reason it just does not make sense to me that he would be a decorated Navy man. Maybe I am wrong.

    This video is of "GMCM Larry Van Schuyver"


    http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1243657904&channel=713285227&lineup=1137792392

    Thanks!!!
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  • Joe Drees
    My first 6 year tour I got a good conduct and a sea service ribbon. When I got called up to go to Iraq I think I ended up with four or five for nine months service. Go figure....Of course I was assigned to an joint unit.[:D]
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  • D1
    Dayumm.
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  • zink
    Way to go Master Chief. Looks like Battle "E"'s (that is why there are E's there) along with the marksmanship ribbons. Not an easy achievement.

    LANCE
    GMG2
    1974-1980
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  • e8gm
    BZ!!Master Chief. Is that the Purple Heart on top?

    W.G. Stegall
    GMCS(SW)
    75-96
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  • bobski
    hi fellow chief.
    tell me about your bottom 4 ribbons. what are they please? no childish behaviour from me here. i just want to ensure your pride and honor remains intact and is reflected properly in a perfectly displayed rack. come click my name icon and we can talk in my goat locker offline.
    warm regards....
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  • River Rat
    Master Chief Shuyver: I have been a participant in this thread, and have returned to state that you appear to be the Real Deal. I apologize for any suspicions I may have voiced, as they were spoken out of ignorance. I am a lowly ex enlisted reservist, but fiercely proud of my puny association with the United States Navy.

    My lowliness is magnified by the fact that you have a SBU background. I was River Patrol/Assault in 72, and returned to such in the reserves from 76 to 79 -- so experienced the renaming to Special Boat Units. Of course, I would not have recognized your SBU pin, since they did not exist in those days. The weapons badges were unfamiliar to me, because folks like me never knew they existed.

    Regards, River Rat
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  • texaswildman
    quote:Originally posted by larry van schuyver
    I'm GMCM VAN SCHUYVER and wanted to answer your questions about my uniform. Ist thing is If I worked with you in the past was I mean to you? take your lunch money? Because your questions seemed to be slanderous to me and not one of seeking knowlege. However I will try to answer your post, first I'm authorized to wear the following pins the Navy Command Master-Chief Pin, the Navy Small craft pin, The Navy new Exp Warfare Pin which came out this last year while I was Command Master-Chief of Inshore Boat Units. I can send you name of all the boat board menbers if you would like me to. I have over the last 29 yrs recieved 28 service ribbons which all all shown on my last 3 DD-214 if you want to see them? Also I have been Command Master-Chief in 2 Joint command unit which entitled you to awards from that service. I'm proud of my service and awards but more proud of the awards and promotions I have helped other to obtain. If you are honest enough to ask me questions please contact me at gmcme9@yahoo.com I love the chance to talk to you about any question you have about my honor. Shame on you for such childlish behaviour I myself would rather be honoring our veterans. As a Navy rangemaster for over 20 yrs,can answer any questions other might have about marksmanship awards..It has been my honor to review other veterans records to help them make chief petty officers and part of that process is having them do my record and in the last 15 yrs as a chief in the US Navy no one has found my record to be not in ship top shape ( for your information). GMCM
    quote:Originally posted by qsecofr
    I need some assistance in determining if these Navy pins are legitimate. Can someone with Navy experience look at this video and tell me if this looks right to you?

    I used to work with this person and for some reason it just does not make sense to me that he would be a decorated Navy man. Maybe I am wrong.

    This video is of "GMCM Larry Van Schuyver"


    http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1243657904&channel=713285227&lineup=1137792392

    Thanks!!!




    Question something and get your answer right here on Gun Broker straight from the Master Chiefs mouth! This may be the best thread i have seen in my 7+ years around this forum!!!!!! You have my thanks Master Chief! God i love this place.....
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  • bobski
    being a fellow chief, all others must remember, once a chief, always a chief, so i stand by GMCM. im in contact with him privately and i was right, he had coasty ribbons. and too, there were special ribbons issued for distinguished shooters for a very short time. he has them. THATS what caught my eye. its all legit. and being a fellow distinguised shooter, i can attest to his skills and will vouch for him.
    team2000.gif
    http://www.usnst.org/
    i never liked ribbons. they got dirty, fell off, the damits kept coming off and they gave me bloody t-shirts. ever try to wear those crappy things with a seat belt? ribbons arent cheap either and a couple trips in a car and seat belt ruined them. poor guy. should have been a PR in some smelly loft doin nothin'. would have been an easier life on uniform expenses![:D]
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  • sarge_3ad
    Glad I'm Army, cause I don't know nothing about the Navy, and the good Chief would be chewing my ass as well. Anyway Chief Schuyver, it's a pleasure to have you aboard, hope you hang around awhile, and I thank you for your service. I hope like hell I addressed you properly. Sarge
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  • beachmaster73
    Bobski....You are listed on the CMP site as a distinguished shooter of the United States. This character isn't. Just because he thinks he is some kind of a Range Master doesn't qualify him for the Distinguished Rifleman or Distinguished Pistol Shot badges I'd sure like to see his doctored DD-214. In my experience If there is ever a change or modification to your DD-214 You are issued a DD-215 not multiple DD-214's. I see maggies drawers being furiously waved from the pits on this guy.....methinks he doth protest too loud. Beach


    P.S. The days when a guy could make Master Chief with multiple NJP's on their record have long since disappeared in the dustbin of history. Beach
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