Ed_Haynes Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Not much is known about the awards of the current Afghan government. Some projects are known to be underway, but it is unclear what may actually exist.Here's what little I know.1- Baryal MedalThe highest award. Not much else known. Described as a ?. . . medal wrapped in a dark red velvet fringed cloth. The small gold medallion bears a torch and laurel leaf design on the front.? Known to have been awarded posthumously on 20 August 2003 to US citizen Brett Thorpe for his services as a contracted bodyguard to President Karzai. Thorpe died of a heart attack while serving in this role. He was the first American to receive this honor.2- Jalal al-Din al-Afghan Medalhe second highest award, not much else known. Awarded 25 November 2004 to the three UN hostages held in Kabul. See http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-11-25-voa22.cfm.3- Heart of the Lion MedalAwarded to the Afghan Security Forces that work with the US. Thanks to John Bristow (thanks John!), here is one of the recipients of the newly created medal on the day they were first awarded in March 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Another recipient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 (edited) Is there a specific or dedicated room to receive these ?Ch. Edited April 6, 2006 by Christophe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted April 6, 2006 Author Share Posted April 6, 2006 Is there a specific or dedicated room to receive these ?Ch.These just happen to be a couple of the stalwarts in the unit my friend is "advising" who got this award. Photos taken "in the field". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 27, 2006 Author Share Posted August 27, 2006 The Mahsood MedalThe current highest gallantry award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 Here are some photos of Afghan awards being worn.Afghan Minister of Defence, General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Independence Day 27 April 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 Unidentified officer, Independence Day 27 April 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 It is interesting that the second officer wears mainly PDRA ("Soviet-era") awards, while Wardak wears pre-Soviet-invasion republican and royal awards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehrentitle Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 (edited) Wardak is also wearing the US blue Infantry cord and the US Infantry School Instuctor's pocket fob on his left breast. Looks like he also has a Ranger tab on the left shoulder, and on the right breast is wearing US Airborne wings and the international student badge for the Infantry School. So it appears that he spent some Hoah time at Ft Benning. Kevin Edited August 29, 2006 by ehrentitle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 Wardak is also wearing the US blue Infantry cord and the US Infantry School Instuctor's pocket fob.Yes, and the US Ranger tab. Guess who his friends are . . . ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehrentitle Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Yes, and the US Ranger tab. Guess who his friends are . . . ???LOL I noticed it and was revising my post when you mentioned it. He must have been a real Airborne-Ranger stud about 25 or 30 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 The Mahsood MedalThe current highest gallantry award.Thank you for starting this interesting topic. The Mahsood medal is a beautiful decoration.. It is interesting it maintained the Soviet style suspension.Do you know how many of these have been awarded thus far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Darrell Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Man ... those two dudes would fit right in with the Russian Mafia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) Another image of Gen. Wardak.Note US "Ranger" and "Airborne" tabs.Truly, the "very model of a modern" . . . general (?). Edited August 31, 2006 by Ed_Haynes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 A not-so-good image of the Ghaz? Mir Masyedi Khan Medal, apparently awarded to those killed in action (including "foreign friends"?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehrentitle Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) A not-so-good image of the Ghaz? Mir Masyedi Khan Medal, apparently awarded to those killed in action (including "foreign friends"?).I think you are right on the foreign friends. See this press release from the Spanish Army:http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ingles/decet/noticias/014.htmOn Base ?General Morillo? in Figueirido, PontevedraRELATIVES OF THE 12 SOLDIERS FROM THE LIGHT INFANTRY AIRBORNE BRIGADE KILLED IN THE "COUGAR" ACCIDENT RECEIVE MEDALS FROM THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT.The ceremony will take place during the commemorative events for the 37th anniversary of the first air transport by the 7th Light Infantry Airborne Brigade ?Galicia? which will be presided over by General Virgilio Sa?udo, commander of the Rapid Response Force The commander of the Rapid Response Force, General Virgilio Sa?udo Alonso de Celis, tomorrow on Base "General Morillo" in Figueirido, will preside over the military parade that brings to an end the commemorative events for the 37th anniversary of the first air transport by the 7th Light Infantry Airborne Brigade ?Galicia?, based in Pontevedra and Siero, Asturias.During the military ceremony, relatives of the 12 soldiers from the Light Infantry Airborne Brigade who were killed on 16th August last, in Afghanistan in an accident involving a "Cougar" helicopter from the Army Helicopter Forces will receive the extraordinary medal of the Order of Ghaz? Mir Masyedi Khan, awarded by the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (a Ghaz? is, in the terminology of this country, a warrior hero).The award Decree -based on section 19 of article 64 of the Afghan Constitution, textually states: "To the end of commemorating and recognising the outstanding services of 17 Spanish servicemen from the International Security Assistance Force, in consideration of their outstanding participation in the peace and stabilisation process in this country and for their participation in the fight against national enemies, having been killed in an aviation accident while undertaking a valuable mission, this extraordinary governmental medal of Ghaz? Mir Masyedi Khan is awarded...? The Decree, signed by president Hamid Karzai, concludes with the names of the 17 deceased. In addition to the military parade, the Light Infantry Airborne Brigade has celebrated various events in Pontevedra, and among those outstanding are a passacaglia (music parade) by the Brigade War Band, a photography exhibition and a concert by bands from the Naval School in Mar?n, the Army Sub-inspection General in Valladolid and the Light Infantry Airborne Brigade itself. On 30th May, a journey by patrols along the Portuguese Way of Saint James (Tuy-Santiago) began with the presence of various participants from other armies. Edited August 31, 2006 by ehrentitle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eitze Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Man ... those two dudes would fit right in with the Russian Mafia Darrell you are right.That were my first thoughts, when I saw the 2 pictures - especially the one of Gen. Wardak and his sunglasses greetings eitze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) It is hard to tell, but the unidentified general officer in #7 appears to be wearing the "triple canopy" of Special Forces, Ranger and Airborne tabs, as well as an SF regimental crest above his jump wings. I suspect these are more or less honorary, reflecting joint operations with the US-led Combined/Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan (C/JSOTF-A), rather than graduation from hooah school and the Q.Also, just a nit, but there's no "h" in Massoud. There are various transliterations, with Mas'ud being closest to the spelling (مسعود), but Massoud himself, educated at a French lycee in Kabul, used the more Frenchified transliteration. Among other Afghans, a more Anglicized version like Masood is often seen.The US Army Infantry School instuctor's pocket fob, affectionately known as the "push to talk" button, seems a little out of place among Wardak's decorations. IIRC, Wardak was in India at a conference when the Soviets invaded, so that's how he managed to avoid being captured or killed along with most of the pre-Communist senior military leadership. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Yahya Nauroz, the Chief of Army Staff before the Saur Revolution, also escaped Afghanistan. He was active in the mujahideen cause but lacked Wardak's more flamboyant personality. Both were affiliated with NIFA, the generally royalist National Islamic Front of Afghanistan (Mahaz-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan), the party which attracted a fair number of former military officers who had served under the king. Rahmatullah Safi, a Q course graduate who had commanded the king's special forces, was also a NIFA commander. Edited August 31, 2006 by Dave Danner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) Also, just a nit, but there's no "h" in Massoud. There are various transliterations, with Mas'ud being closest to the spelling (مسعود), but Massoud himself, educated at a French lycee in Kabul, used the more Frenchified transliteration. Anmong other Afghans, a more Anglicized version like Masood is often seen.Not a nit, thanks Dave. Fingers got disconnected from mind. Oops.Thanks for other observations and info.From all I heard there, calling Wardak "flamboyant" is an understatement. Edited August 31, 2006 by Ed_Haynes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 From all I heard there, calling Wardak "flamboyant" is an understatement. Opinions on Wardak vary, and it is important not to confuse him with other Wardaks, many of whom were fine officers. When, during the Afghan-Soviet War, people spoke of "Gucci guerrillas", those Westernized Peshawar-based mujahideen leaders who seemed more comfortable being interviewed by journalists in the Dean's Hotel than in leading fighters in the field, Abdul Rahim Wardak was pretty much whom they had in mind. Of course, the always nattily-dressed political leader of NIFA, Pir Sayyed Ahmed Gailani, who is also the head of Qadariya sufiism and who routinely traveled between Peshawar and the exiled king's villa near Rome, actually did wear Gucci. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Opinions on Wardak vary, and it is important not to confuse him with other Wardaks, many of whom were fine officers. When, during the Afghan-Soviet War, people spoke of "Gucci guerrillas", those Westernized Peshawar-based mujahideen leaders who seemed more comfortable being interviewed by journalists in the Dean's Hotel than in leading fighters in the field, Abdul Rahim Wardak was pretty much whom they had in mind. Of course, the always nattily-dressed political leader of NIFA, Pir Sayyed Ahmed Gailani, who is also the head of Qadariya sufiism and who routinely traveled between Peshawar and the exiled king's villa near Rome, actually did wear Gucci.And many of them never got far out of the luxurious southern suburbs of New Delhi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 But, however much fun this is, much of it is Back on theme . . . I was struck that while Wardak wears his royalist awards, the second officer shown still wears his PDRA awards. An interesting mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 But, however much fun this is, much of it is Back on theme . . . I was struck that while Wardak wears his royalist awards, the second officer shown still wears his PDRA awards. An interesting mix.We need a nicer "off topic" smilie, but point taken. So, back on theme... Unfortunately, space limitations are forcing me to play around with the cropping and size, but: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Closer up, again with the DRA, it appears: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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