bigjarofwasps

Guys, turns out to be an urban myth.....

http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/patch.asp

The problem Rick, is that these medals only have the recipients' ranks & names. Unfortunately - and much to the frustration of collectors - the force is not recorded on the rim.

I wonder why that is? Also why you have to do 22 years as Bobby to get the same medal that you`d get for 12 years in the Forces?

No, sorry guys, for some reason I can`t get this picture to post??

I wonder is it really in the public interest to pursue charges againest this `sniveller`. Far better to publicly expose him as a charlatan?

A wise man once said........

He which hath no stomach to this fight,

Let him depart; his passport shall be made,

And crowns for convoy put into his purse;

We would not die in that man's company

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed

Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us in Iraq.

Hallo BJOW, Can you date the above story? I thinks its an old one?? Kevin in Deva.

Kev, I think it date just slightly after the invasion (later 2003). As for the other article, well that dates just after the first show!

SEATTLE — A man who tried to position himself as a leader of the anti-war movement by claiming to have participated in war crimes while serving in Iraq is facing federal charges of falsifying his record.

Jesse Adam Macbeth, 23, formerly of Phoenix, garnered attention on blogs and in some alternative media after he began claiming in 2005 to have been awarded a Purple Heart for his service, which he said included slaughtering innocents in a Fallujah mosque. His story was contradicted by his discharge form, showing that he was kicked out of the Army after six weeks at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2003 because of his “entry level performance and conduct.”

A complaint unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle charged him with one count of using or possessing a forged or altered military discharge certificate, and one count of making false statements in seeking benefits from the Veterans Administration.

Macbeth’s public defender, Jay Stansell, declined to comment.

Organizations that opposed the war, including Iraq Veterans Against the War, posted videos or statements containing Macbeth’s claims on their Web sites. In one videotaped interview, a skinny, stuttering Macbeth, dressed in a camouflage jacket, described slaughtering hundreds of people in a mosque: “We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,” he said.

Macbeth's uniform as worn in the video was inconsistent with Army regulations,[18] and in some cases, inconsistent with his purported identity. Boyce is quoted in Stars and Stripes as saying "There are... numerous wear and appearance issues with the soldier's uniform – a mix of foreign uniforms with the sleeves rolled up like a Marine and a badly floppy tan beret worn like a pastry chef," Stars and Stripes also reported that Macbeth wore his beret with the insignia over the wrong eye.[6]

Australian medals are engraved before issue, I don't know if modern Kiwi ones are.

Regards;

Johnsy

Johnsy, that is interesting, what details to they give.

Example- British Medals, give number, rank, name (with initials) and Regt or Corps.

Very sad news!!!

Made even worse by the fact that they were supposedly serving in an alledged quiet part of the country. It seems that like in Iraq, there are no front lines.

I believe that Prince Harry was supposed to be going to serve over there instead of in Iraq, I wonder if this will change that plan?

Just out of interest are these soldiers the first German soldiers to be killed in action since WW2?

Corporal Jeremy Brookes, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, died after the convoy he was travelling in came under attack in southern Iraq.

Cpl Brookes died of his injuries after the attack (Pic MoD)

The soldier had been commanding a vehicle escorting a re-supply convoy in the Al Tuwaysa district of the city when it came under attack.

The 28-year-old was taken to the Basra Palace UK base, but died of injuries sustained in the small arms fire attack.

Cpl Brookes, originally of Birmingham, was remembered as an "inspirational" figure by his commanding officer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6678533.stm

US forces find 2000 gold bars

US soldiers in Iraq seized a truck believed to be loaded with 2000 gold bars worth as much as $762.8 million during a routine search near the Syrian border.

"The bars may have a total worth of 500 million US dollars, depending on carat weight and purity," the US Central Command said.

Soldiers from the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment stopped the Mercedes-Benz truck and its two occupants yesterday in Al Qaim, finding the 18 kilogram bars, which measured 10 centimetres by 13 centimetres by 25 centimetres.

"The occupants told the soldiers that they had been paid a total of 350,000 dinars ($534) to pick up the truck in Baghdad and drive it to an unnamed individual in Al Qaim," the US Central Command said in a statement.

News of the find came as senior US military sources insisted there would be no special deals with Uday Hussein, playboy son of ex-Iraqi dictator Saddam.

"His surrender will have to be unconditional," said a senior commander, commenting on reports in The Wall Street Journal that negotiations were already under way with Saddam's eldest son.

Uday would be expected to face human rights charges, and any deal which meant he did not would come under fierce attack.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the truck, who were not identified, said they had been told the bars were bronze, but authorities believe the bars are made of gold and are having them tested.

The command said the men, the truck and the apparent gold hoard was being held by the regiment.

Al Qaim, a town on the Euphrates across the border from Syria, has been a key transit point for fleeing members of the deposed regime of Saddam Hussein.

The Iraqi central bank and other banks were looted by the regime before the war and were ransacked again in the chaos that followed the fall of the Iraqi capital.

But how much was taken when the banks were emptied and how much in other ill-gotten gains was squirrelled away during Saddam's rule is unknown.

US authorities estimate Saddam and his family made off with $US900 million ($1.37 billion) from the central bank before the war.

Saddam's son Qusay was reported to have sent three tractor trailers to the central bank to clean it out shortly before the war.

US forces have recovered about $700 million in US currency and $US90 million in euros, which US authorities believe came from the central bank.

Another $400 million in US currency was believed to have been looted from other Iraqi banks.

Once across the border in Syria, hard-to-trace gold could quickly disappear into the international market. The cash generated by the sales could then buy protection for former regime members or finance those left behind in Iraq.

Saddam, Qusay and Uday remain unaccounted for 43 days after US forces captured Baghdad.

But nearly half of the 55 Iraqis on a US most wanted list have been captured or have surrendered, and those at large increasingly appear to be running out of options.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday Uday Hussein was putting out surrender feelers from his hideout in a Baghdad suburb but had been put off by a tough US negotiating stance.

Fearful of being killed if found by Iraqis, Uday "doesn't have good choices", a source familiar with the discussions was quoted as saying.

Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader, has offered to let Saddam's wife and daughter live under his protection in the north.

Iraq Gives Back Gold It Stole During Its Attack on Kuwait

Iraq has handed back to Kuwait gold bullion worth about $700 million that Baghdad looted during its invasion of the emirate last year, United Nations officials said today.

The officials said the last of 3,216 bars of gold was handed over at the Saudi border post of Arar on Thursday.

Transfer of the gold, looted from the central bank, began on Aug. 5 under the supervision of United Nations officials. Each bar was tested for purity and weight.

Dick Foran, the United Nations envoy in charge of returning Kuwaiti property from Iraq, said Baghdad was expected to start returning artifacts taken from Kuwait National Museum by mid-September.

Looks like he`ll get his wish after all, with a tour of Afganistan...

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=166&id=612032006

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...8/nwreck218.xml

A record haul of half a million silver and gold coins from a 17th Century shipwreck may have been found just 40 miles from Land's End, an expert said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6671975.stm

Oregon Citizen-Soldiers Receive Combat Medical Badge

FOB WARRIOR, Iraq - Six citizen-soldiers from Oregon were awarded the Combat Medical Badge in a ceremony held on Jul. 8 at the Task Force 3-116 Armor Battalion Aide Station.

The Soldiers received the awards for providing care to the wounded after three separate attacks by insurgent forces.

The Combat Medical Badges were presented personally by 116th Brigade Combat Team commander, Brig. Gen. Alan Gayhart, who commended each of them on the performance of their duty.

The recipients of the awards are:

• Medford, Ore. soldier Spc. Richard Egan of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Spc. Nicolas Kettaneh of HHC, both of whom are attached to F Batttery, 188th Air Defense Artillery, provided medical attention after an indirect fire attack on the Delacruz range, Iraq.

• La Grande, Ore. soldier Sgt. 1st Class Louis Gerber of HHC, along with Reedsport, Ore. soldier Spc. Raymond Viers of A Company, rendered medical attention after an IED detonation near Dogmat village, Iraq.

• Spc. Alan Yanez, a soldier from The Dalles, Ore., of the Scout Platoon, and Spc. Isaac Witcraft, a soldier from Nyssa, Ore., of A Co., (who was unable to attend), provided medical attention after an IED detonated near Hawijah, Iraq while they were on combat patrol.

All are members of TF 3-116 Armor and all were awarded the badge for rendering medical attention while participating in combat operations under hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Brig. Gen. Gayhart spoke informally with the entire formation of Soldiers afterward, answering questions and addressing concerns.

The 116th Brigade Combat Team supports the government of Iraq in the areas of Security, Economics, Government and Communications.

The 116th Brigade Combat Team is composed of units from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, Maryland and New Jersey. The unit is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, the 2nd and 3rd Armor Battalions, the 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, the 1-163rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 145th Support Battalion, the 116th Engineer Battalion and various intelligence, signal and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Nice, I wonder is the bridge still standing?

Yes so it seems after all that its to dangerous over there. I fail to see how this is an issue he`s joined the army, and opted to serve in the Blues & Royals, who are deploying. Does this mean that Tommy Atkins, doesn`t have to go as either? I think not!!!! This will surely mark the end of his career and certainly his credability as an officer?

But getting back onto topic, yes a real blow for the person who spent ?51 on one of these t shirts, that will now be worthless, if they weren`t already...

Cheers Guys, thats smashing thanks very much!!!!!

Laurence those guys with the colours are outstanding!!!!!!

The German medics look like just want I`m after!!!!

Pte Kevin Thompson, aged 21, from the Royal Logistic Corps, died on 6 May from injuries sustained when the convoy in which he was travelling was hit by an improvised bomb.

After the attack on 3 May, he was treated at the field hospital in Basra Air Station before being flown back to Britain, where he died.

A British soldier who died from injuries sustained last week in Iraq has been named.

He was Lancaster-born Pte Kevin Thompson, 21, from the Royal Logistic Corps, the Ministry of Defence said.

Pte Thompson was wounded on Thursday when a routine convoy to re-supply the Basra Palace military base was hit by an improvised explosive device.

His death on Sunday brought the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 148.

'Best friend'

Pte Thompson is survived by his mother Teresa, father Mark, brother Andrew, sisters Nicola and Jade and fianc?e Lucy.

After being given first aid at the scene he was treated at the field hospital at Basra Air Station, and then flown back to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham.

He was expected to recover but his condition deteriorated and his family were at his bedside when he died.

Born in Lancaster and nicknamed "Tomo", Pte Thompson was described as a keen footballer and supporter of Birmingham City FC.

'Genuine loyalty'

His Squadron Commander in Iraq, Major John Wallace-Dutton, said: "He was a soldier who people liked to be around.

"Everyone enjoyed his humour and respected him for his genuine loyalty and love for his family. He was a brave man and an inspiration to the men he served with."

He joined the army in 2004 and was a member of The Carmen's Troop, serving in Iraq under the command of 19 Combat Service Support Battalion.

Pte Thompson's friend Pte Robert Etherington described him as a "one-off".

"He was my best friend and I will miss him terribly like us all serving with Carmen's Troop. He will never be forgotten," Pte Etherington added.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "My thoughts and sympathies are with Private Thompson's family at this difficult

I can think of a few other British Medals....

Afgan Campaign Medal 1880

India General Service Medal Calsp afgan 1919, sure there`s a few other clasps- a long the NWF lines.

I`m sure the Russians must have had one as well?

NATO

Are the Ozzy & Kiwi medals issued named?

The New Zealand medal for service in Afghanistan. The medal is in fact a General Service Medal, but the riband is different depending on the area of operations.

The ribbon is comprised of stripes of black, red and green. These colours have been used as the basic colours of a variety of traditional Afghanistan flags since 1900, and in 1929 were recognised as the national colours of the country. It is generally accepted that black alludes to the past, red to blood shed for independence, and green to hope. Green also represents the Islamic faith and is regarded as a sacred colour.

Regards;

Johnsy

Now this ones a bit better, but I prefer the British one....

There is a lot of confusion over this medal, as at one time it was issued with no bar, then a rossette, then with a clasp? Can anyone shine any light on this?