The Laugh of the Army

On May 31, 1945, my father wrote home to his brother, " I guess I should have been more explicit about the Air Medal. We got it - everyone does who flies 6 missions - then you get a cluster for each 6 missions after that. Let's get this straight - we have not so many ribbons. We have the Dentyne wrapper (good conduct) which is the laugh of the Army. We can wear the E.T.O. ribbon with two bronze stars - 1 for battle over France - One for battle over Germany and the Air Medal. Also the Presidential Citation. We can wear it with 2 clusters over here with our group but should we be separated from the group we can only wear the ribbon itself for we were attached to the group only when the last Citation was awarded. That should take care of that."