jon m.

Does anyone have advice as to how to go about cleaning the ribbon on a Purple Heart? It is the older variant, so I am guessing that it is possibly cotton Thanks, Jon.

You are referring to WAF aren't you???? Jon.

I love it!! How heavy is it? Jon.

Yes, "German Democratic Rebublic" would be GDR, or DDR, or in Polish, NRD. Jon.

That is very nice!

I found it!!!! It was used in the now obsolete M85 machine gun. Many Thanks for helping. Jon.

Oh crap. I knew that . I was in a "military" state of mind, trying to figure out what that meant in military jargon .

Yes I knew that, and at the Des Moines ordnance plant (DM), but what I have no idea about is the kind of MG it was used in. I feel stupid for asking this, but what does "IIRC" mean? Jon.

It is just black lacquer (AP Tungsten Core). He got them during his time in the US Army (late 1960s and early 1970s). I do not remember if he served in Vietnam or not. I think that he might have because he did not like talking about his time in the Army (he would literally change the subject if asked about his military experience). However I do know that he was some kind of instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Jon.

Could someone give me some background information on this .50 cal. MG cartridge link? My uncle gave me them some years ago and I have yet to know what they were used in (My uncle has since died, so naturally I can't ask him). The ammunition is all WWII dated ("DM 43") and the links are stamped "M15 BRW". I assume that the "BRW" refers to John M. Browning. Any help is appreciated. Jon.

Did you guys ever figure out what it was? I completely understand what you guys are saying about safety . About ten years ago, ok maybe nine, a .50 cal. BMG primer cap exploded in my hand . The anvil lodged into my left ring-finger, and the twisted primer cap went in one side of my left thumb and out the other (missing the bone thank God!). I still have my "shrapnel." I have no idea why the entire cartridge did not explode, but I have always been extremely thankful that it didn't. Will work on posting some pics. Jon.

I apologize for maddening anyone on this forum. My original post was written out of the (now corrected) belief that the HSU was originally a Military award and later expanded to include Civilians. Jon.

Thanks for joining us. It is always great to have a real NVA veteran. Jon.

Yes I was referring to German.Militaria (Torsten) as having served in the NVA. Sorry for not noticing the confusion sooner, but I have been caught up in "The Devaluing of the Hero of Russia." I sure stirred up a hornets nest over there. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10543 Jon.

Hi Ed, nice medals. What does BPFK stand for? Thanks, Jon.

In then end it comes down to how individual people define the term "Hero." I essentially define it as doing something that most people would not do and at great risk of severe injury or death. Slava. thanks for posting that link, I had given up ever finding it again.

That is what comes to mind when I refer to the civilian awarding of the HSU/RF medals. Specifically the ice skaters. I do not consider that in any way, shape or form to be heroic. Now I really have to go. Jon.

I thought about my earlier post and realize that I left out Cosmonauts. While not all deserve the award some truly did, such as Yuri Gagarin, for he was the FIRST MAN in space and his name is subsequently known the world over. I am biased for the military, firefighters, police and cosmonauts because they operate in a field where a violent death is a part of daily life (such as being blown into a million pieces by high-explosives; burned to death; shot to death; and having your blood boil after being exposed to the vacuum of space - respectively). While the civilians are functioning in a much more "civil" environment, I acknowledge that some may do something that merits the HSU/RF title, but I can't think of any instances at the moment. This has been a pet peeve of mine for some years and I nearly shat myself when I read the title of this topic. Anyhow, I am off to class for my first exam over Russian involvement in the Korean War. Jon.

It is just that when I think of "Hero" automatically a soldier comes to mind, then to a lesser extent Firemen and Police. Perhaps it is because I live in US where there is a clear division between awards for military service and civilian service (that is: Firefighters, Police etc.). In my view, when the Gold Star medal is awarded to a civilian it lessens the magnitude of what the soldiers did to earn the title "Hero of the [soviet Union or Russian Federation]". I mean no disrespect to any civilians who earned the title, but in my opinion ice skating and combat do not come close to each other. By the way, in modern Russia if you earn two or more "Hero" medals do they still place a bust of you in your hometown? Jon.

I read in Krasnaya Zvezda a couple of years ago where they gave the Hero of Russia medal to some Chechen boy who was killed. Personally I think that it should ONLY be awarded to SOLDIERS for HEROISM, either in war or during times of peace.

He also served in the NVA