Hugh

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but it seems that the legend - "zur Errinerung" (in remembrance) probably puts this in the category of some sort of veteran's badge.

I know that France has been awarding the Legion d'Honneur for some American WW II veterans. Can anyone direct me to the award criteria? I have a friend who served in the UK as ground crew for the US Eighth Air Force. To the best of my knowledge, he never served in France. Would he be eligible? Thanks for your help, Hugh

Here's a look at the wiederholungspange on the Austro-Hungarian Tapferkeitsmedaille. I'm not trying to insist that this is the same as the one shown on the Hesse medal; just that they look alike in two German-speaking countries. I hope someone can offer a definitive answer. Who is our wiederholungspange expert? Best, Hugh

Would the bar not be a wiederholungspange to show a second award? Hugh

I wonder how many of us first learned of your father and grandfather through some connection with Fort McNair. The name is a wonderful way to commemorate their service. The Navy used to do it with ships, but they seem to be shifting to politicians these days.

und auch einander H

Signalman and Boatswain's Mate were still two different rates in the USN in the '60s and '70s. I had never heard that they had combined in the Navy. Perhaps it's different in the Coast Guard? H

Of course we can't eliminate Pakistani, but the piece was sold by an Afghan refugee living in Pakistan. That's why I assumed Russian. There was a very brisk trade in Russian military medals, insignia and equipment in the refugee camps at that time, all very cheap. Everything except tanks and aircraft, and you probably could have found those with a little work. Of course, it also could have been to an Afghan. I guess we'll never know. Thanks to both of you for your comments. H

QUOTE 1st class was intended for state and political figures (mostly Ministers), as well as foreign ambassadors, who have already completed their diplomatic mission in Yugoslavia Only 1423 awardings with 1st class were made until the December 31, 1985. 1081 to foreigners and only 342 to citizens of Yugoslavia. UNQUOTE Now you have really piqued my imagination. How in the world did this wind up in Pakistan? I had always assumed it came from a Russian officer killed in Afghanistan, but 1st class would have been a high ranking officer. Perhaps an Afghan ambassador to Yugoslavia? (Based on the info below) There was absolutely nothing else related with it; it was just lying on a blanket along with some other Russian and Afghan stuff. It cost 2400 Pk rupees (about $80 US at the time) I suppose there's no way to identify the owner? It's well outside my normal area of interest. Best, Hugh

Here's mine. Got it in a bazaar in Pakistan in the '80's when the Russians were next door. I think it's the star for second class. I may have shown it here before.

Whoops, don't see the image. H

I suggest that you show the rest of the ribbons. It's a long shot but perhaps there may be a clue there. Best, Hugh

Interesting that, at the grade of Petty Officer First Class, he apparently converted from Signalman to Boatswain's Mate. That's a significant career change. H

The link below will take you to a story in the NY Times about the Flying Tigers cemetery. It also discusses a medal issued recently by the communist government for Chinese veterans of the Flying Tigers. An excerpt - " Surviving Nationalist veterans in China were awarded a medal commemorating their World War II service." Has anyone seen it or other press coverage? http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/decay-of-flying-tigers-graveyard-sparks-debate-in-china/?emc=edit_tnt_20131022&tntemail0=y&_r=0 Best, Hugh

I think most of us who were there had a grudging respect for him.

I can remember visiting Bermuda in the summer of 1952 (?) and happening on a company of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on a road march. The officer was wearing drill shorts and the flannel shirt, and sweating profusely. He did have the sleeves rolled up. Go figure. Seems to me the Other Ranks were wearing drill top and bottom.

I'm going from deep memory, so please don't hold me strictly accountable. Once upon a time, up until WW II, enlisted ratings were divided between the more traditional naval trades and the more recent specialities. For the more traditional ratings (bo'sun's mate, gunner's mate, carpenter's mate, etc.), their badges were worn on the right arm, and they took pride in being "right arm rates". All others wore their badges on the left arm, and were presumably suitably humble about being inferior to the right arm rates. Nowadays, all ratings wear their badges on the left arm only. Where did it all originate? Probably with Jason and the Argonauts. Probably a long-ago budget-reduction initiative. Best, Hugh

I got an email this morning which claims that: "William Hitler, a nephew of Adolf Hitler, was in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He changed his name after the war.c" Has anyone got more information? Hugh

Here's look at the Grand Cordon Special Class) class of this award. Hugh

The colors remind me of Bavaria. H

I noticed that his cemetery is in Pinellas County, which is where I live. I'm not familiar with the name. Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home 2853 Sunset Point Road Clearwater, FL 33759 Phone: (727) 796-1992 Best, Hugh

Alive, well and holding forth at OMSA.

Too bad Ed is no longer with us. I'm sure he'd have some salty comments. Hugh

Most of these are right up there with the Nobel Peace Prize for irrevelance. Next, let's look at the Nobel Prize for Literature. How many of these names have you ever heard? Of those you recognize, how many of their books have you read? 2012 MO YAN who with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary. 2011 TOMAS TRANSTRÖMER because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality. 2010 MARIO VARGAS LLOSA for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat. 2009 HERTA MÜLLER who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed. 2008 JEAN-MARIE GUSTAVE LE CLÉZIO author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization. 2007 DORIS LESSING that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny. 2006 ORHAN PAMUK who in the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures. 2005 HAROLD PINTER who in his plays uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms. 2004 ELFRIEDE JELINEK for her musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's clich s and their subjugating power 2003 JOHN MAXWELL COETZEE who in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider 2002 IMRE KERTÉSZ for writing that upholds the fragile experience of the individual against the barbaric arbitrariness of history 2001 V. S. NAIPAUL for having united perceptive narrative and incorruptible scrutiny in works that compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories. 2000 GAO XINGJIAN for an oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity, which has opened new paths for the Chinese novel and drama.