These are my father's medals from World War II.
The long blue medal with the rifle and the wreath is the Combat Infantrymans Badge (CIB). Directly underneath the CIB, on the left is the American Campaign Ribbon, and on the right is the Victory In Europe Ribbon (star devices additional awards). Underneath these is, the 70th Division (his parent unit) on the left, and the Good Conduct Medal and Ribbon on the right. Underneath these is the WWII Victory Medal, and on the right is the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon (the stars are additional awards of the same medal).
Description of medals courtesy of Tom Pipia.
These are my father's service insignias from World War II:
Top center; Service Stripe, 1 enlistment. Left side; Driver/Mechanic qualification badge (Driver W is for wheeled vehichles), underneath this is his Unit Crest which I have placed over his Overseas bars/18 months. On the right side both medals are the same. They are for Rifle Sharpshooter, Second highest qualification.
Note: I have been informed that the black-white-red ribbon belongs to the Iron Cross of my grandfather Karl Pfifferling which is shown on the next page, left side
It has to be put into the ring on the Iron Cross. It was put with the cross through a buttonhole at the uniform, nearly in the middle of the button line. The cross was only worn when having the medal parade. On the normal uniform there was only the ribbon in that hole and a small black-white-red stripe above the left breast pocket.
These are my Opa Karl's medals from World War I. The Iron Cross is on the left and the Honor Cross is on the right. It was earning the Honor Cross that enabled him to be released from Buchenwald. According to my cousin, Peter Jacobsohn, the medal that looks like a helmet was given to soldiers that suffered war wounds.