Jill, I was in the Army, but as I was connected to the Sea Scouts and my son was on the Norwegian tall ship, "Kristian Radich" for a year, I am somewhat familiar with some of the information. I am sure there is a Navy man out there who knows all the answers to your questions. AS = Able Seaman S2c = Seaman 2nd Class s1c = Seaman 1st Class Cox = Coxswain (pronounced Cox'n) These are his ratings (ranks) as he was promoted upwards. They are his "stripes" he wore. You can find out from this what he was paid in those days as these are linked to pay grades (E-1, E-2, E-3, etc.) My guess is that NTS = Naval Training Ship (probably a ship training unit in Idaho, and could be a vessel named "Farragut") The rest of the vessels by letter and number are a job for a sailor to identify. These are service medals he was awarded. American Area = ? for wartime service in a Naval "Area of Operations" Victory Medal= awarded to all after the surrender. Asiatic Pacific (3 stars) = campaign ribbon with a star for each campaign. You can find out the names of these campigns from his service records, or by comparing his dates of service on each vessel he was aboard. Recruit Training 8 wks = just a note on training, maybe, but prob. not a ribbon, that would probably have been in Idaho. If you can get from the NARA (National Archives), a Form 180, you can send for a copy of his service records. Just send an email request to inquirearch2.nara.gov and provide your mailing address they may need some proof of relationship as well due to privacy law. The National Personnel Records Center also has information on those who served in WWII. Go to www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html (downloadable forms). And I know there will be a sailor to tell you more. You can always tell a sailor, but you can't tell them much! (:-) Regards, Bob O'Neal in Tacoma WA By the way, I met my wife on a blind date too when I was on active duty. !!