Rogi

Wow awesome read

This one is the Order of Soldier's Honor, I think this is a 2nd class, later variant (like 70s or 80s onward). The enamel looks rough like someone pricked at it or replaced.

Wow amazing ! If they do make it into a movie, hopefully they won't Hollywood-fy it up too much.

Although the tags looks interesting, I don't think they are official issue, maybe tailor made but they are pretty simplistic in design and lay out. My main thoughts stem to, why would a Special Unit want Special Tags made for the unit in question? Why distinguish yourself that much from the standard army practices, it would only make you a bigger target in the end. Odd tags indeed and worthy of further research.

Most of the current medals are on the Korean government's site. If you get the regs, I'll translate them it may take a bit but we'll see what comes up Hopefully he has the old regulations as well, that way we can cover both old and new :)

There could very well be two reasons, 1. Ribbons aren't in order, any way we try to look at it. 2. Mixed up ribbons from different time periods. 3. We don't have enough info. on all Korean ribbons to find the "right" combination. I still think it is Eulji (just a small correction, not Ulchi, medal is originally named after 을지문덕) Here is a link from google's Page, with battle star, it has 3 stripes and is the older (1950s) issue of the medal: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0CAUQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F5%2F5b%2FKorean_Ulchi_Medal_with_Silver_Star.jpg&ei=4PWlVNykC8SXyASK34KgAw&psig=AFQjCNFsdN-x5MYGiH1nzDmCj21GpmAHDA&ust=1420248928310769 the later issues of the medal changed to 4 stripes. I have to agree with you, they look like Eulji, Chungmu and Hwarang, depending on the time period, but if so, why mix them up, and second who was this soldier, Rambo? it seems way too heavy for a NCO definatley agree there. Even if we have mistaked these for some other orders, Civillian orders and medals were hard to achieve too. Then again, it isn't impossible for the Order of Military Merit combinations, just strange how he doesn't receive an officer's rank. Third row could be pretty much anything from Hwarang (50s version, to Hwarang and some civil medal. Odd combos for sure. the next row, fourth row, look like US medals to me :S

Be happy to help with the translation. But the ribbons have me thinking a bit, do they all fit the period? I know the Korean orders have had various changes from the 50s to 60s to late 60s etc, lots of the Order of Military Merit went through ribbon and color changes. Leaves me with questions, if this is 50s issue of all the orders (with which at least some of the Military Merit should be if the uniform fits the period) So, could the Order of Military Merit be a Eulji Medal with star (red ribbon at the time with white stripes) and not Chungmu (which would be light blue and white stripes) One next to it in the same row to the right could be Chungmu (although it does look purple and not light blue)

in regards to the Chungmu, the ribbon is red, depending on how many stripes are on it, could very well be it, Would be nice to have close ups of the ribbon bar.

middle word: 촘동맹중 Alliance of Chom, so we have together, 천리마 촘동맹중 앙위원회 Chollima alliance/confederate (most likely alliance in this context) of the Chiang Rai Committee. Hope that helped :)

These skull and cross bone badges scare me, some look excellent quality for fakes one thing I've noticed is the consistent patina on some of the fake pieces, almost looks like they are made out of cement with a very grain like appearance Thanks all for posting these and getting us more educated on them :)

Very interesting findings on this medal JapanX Hope to see what more info. can be found about her

Beautiful process and amazing that they shared it on youtube takes on a whole new meaning now when you look at these medals and know how they were made. Many thanks for sharing the link Chris !

Mighty awesome group here Paul, hoping for the best for further research :)

I'll have to check out the second word tomorrow and elaborate in my brain a bit on it Think it over so to speak but, Last word, 앙위원회 means, "Chiang Rai Committee" Now this needs a little explanation, Chiang Rai is a major debarcation point for North Koreans wishing to flee the North, and they commonly entry Thailand through this point. As for the badge's meaning, as Chiang Rai is also a Military Commission of the Communist Party of North Korea, which I suspect this badge belonged to a member, it looks like a badge from there.

It could also be a modified shell from any of those producers, honestly I don't know enough about weapons to say if it is or isn't but Yugoslavia did supply a lot of weapons and could very much be a possibility, they had 60mm Yugo. shells, but all of these that I have seen are listed in Cyrillic letters or equivalent and I believe if they are headed for export they are marked as such.

Very cool grouping congrats :)

Could very well be a Yugo. Shell, we supplied a lot of weapons/tanks etc. to some of the Arab states. the Tip of the shell looks like it is missing.

Wooo awesome Welcome Brian R! :)

Lol, I thought our Navy also had a vending machine that dispensed alcohol, did they ban these too?

Front: 천리마 is Chollima it is a North Korean movement for shock economics I guess the easiest way to translate in English would be "thousand mile horse" It is closest to Soviet Stakhanovite movement. Reverse, first section to the left 조선직업 Joseon career or occupation, the rest I can't read on the reverse since it gets blurry when I zoom in, could you post closer shots of the reverse. only have middle and right to translate, but I'm suspecting it is most likely for shock worker or something similar

Legion of Honour, English writing of the famous French order

Sad story of the Police Dog but it is nice to see an outpouring of support for the unit. Thank you for sharing this with us Mervyn

Awesome pictures I love Moscow Sky

What a great photo Paul! Excellent find man

Sorry to bring this one up again, but any advice for researching French recipients? :)