Hugh

I have a couple of very detailed books in Japanese (which I don't read). Could probably scan a page and let one of our linguists translate.

Sorry, no, Some TW friends gave it to me with a frame of commissioning pennants (I was a USN officer) as a gift when I left the territory. However, I'd bet a little money it's just the MND insignia. Best, Hugh

Here it is. It's about 100 mm wide / 63 mm high.

I vaguely remember getting some Intell badges in Rawalpindi once upon a time. I'll rummage around to see what I have. I think they were different to these. Hugh

Don't really know, but I've got one of each. The one on the right is the newer one, as I think you know, and i got mine in Bangkok in the 1980's. The other is in an old looking case that I'd guess dates back before World War II. I suppose it's conceivable that the change was made at the time of the accession of the current king Bhumibol (around 1941?), but that's just speculation. Maybe my friend in Bangkok can dig up something.

If you have a mate in Seoul, there are quite a number of uniform and insignia shops around the Korean War Museum on the west side (away from the base at Yongsan). As I said in an earlier post, they're very cautious about selling to foreigners, but perhaps a Korean national could elicit something.

Forgot to add, mine is current issue.

Definitely ROC / ChiNat. I don't know about the blue / white flash, but the rest is the classic insignia of the Ministry of National Defense. I have one just like it except it has a wreath around and five-petaled plum(?) blosson on top.

I THINK I can dig out a couple of cards for Thai medal / insignia shops if you can communicate with them in Thai. Let me know before I start the search.

Hi, Drew, looking forward to seeing the medal. I used to travel quite regularly to Taiwan, and was able to amass quite a few TW medals. About the only down side to retirement seems to be that I don't make those trips any more (and that's not all bad, either). However, I do have a card for a shop in Shi Men Ding, Taipei, which could probably meet you needs IF you can communicate with them in Chinese. Frankly, I doubt that they'll be much interested in the hassle of shipping to Australia, but if you can surmount the language barrier, it may be worth a try. Phone would probably be better than a letter to start with; it's too easy to ignore a letter. Of curse, the best would be to find a friend who would walk in their door. I also saw your post on Korea. The ROK is extremely careful to safeguard their medals, and most of the shops wouldn't even talk to me. Don't know if they would be the same about insignia, but I suspect they would. I have no current info on PRC.

Good heavens! I'm overwhelmed by the extent of this material. Many thanks for your efforts. Hugh

Thanks, Ed. I'm just not sure about these. They look oldish, but I learned years ago in Taiwan that faking antiquity is no great challenge for the specialist. Our rep there strongly discouraged me from buying Chinese antiques there, saying "I made my first few millions faking these things."

Alas, the fakes are everywhere. Got any hints on what I should be looking for to distinguish them?

I recently acquired this trio from Bahawalpur. Ribbon colors appear a little different from McGlenahan in some instances. I suppose there may be variants, which may be discussed in the appendices? Hugh

I think quite a few of us would be interested if you have the time. Many thanks, Hugh

Do any of you have anything on the awards of Tajikstan? We have friends working there now, but they're not phaleristically inclined. Best, Hugh

Not Korean

Ihave a friend (retired ROK colonel - artillery) coming in tomorrow for a visit. I'm sure he'd be glad to helpo if anyone has questions on ROK awards.

Forgot to mention - I assume you have the Inter Services Public Relations booklet on uniform and dress, don't you? It's the only specific PAK source I have.

Hi, Ed, A few questions, please: 1) I assume you've listed these in the order of precedence? 2) I didn't see the Azad Kashmir medal. It's my impression that it's an unofficial commemorative medal; not authorized for wear on the uniform. Is this correct? Any more poop you can offer on this? 3) I didn't see the Democracy medal (Bilal Medal) or the 30 years service. Did you forget, or just get tired? 4) During the times I was travelling frequently in Pakistan, they referred to "Sitara-i-Harb" rather than Istar. Is this a change in usage? 5) Since I no longer go there, I'd love to get the Pakistan Independence Golden Jubilee. Any suggestions? I've lost touch with the dealers / military tailors I used to know. There was a particularly good one on the Mall just to the west of the Intercontinental / Pearl Continental, although he never did much with medals other than mounting them.

Contrary to my post on an earlier US Cold War medal thread, it seems reasonable to me that UK soldiers shoud be permitted to wear the medal. I understand that this is contrary to British policy and tradition, but, for example, I'm allowed by the US to wear campaign medals from both the US and Viet Namese governments for that service, and I can't see that the British uniform would be demeaned by a similar policy, should they choose to change. What seems inappropriate to me is the award of two medals to the same individual by the same government for the same service, as in the proposed US Cold War Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Duplicative and excessive. How's that for an opinion? As the saying goes, it's one of two things we all have...

I served from 1961 - 1991, and don't see any real difference between this and the National Defense Service Medal. We're all wearing too much crap already. If this is approved by the services for wear by active duty members on the uniform, I'd take another look. Otherwise, it's just costume jewelry from my point of view.

Just one more question. When worn on the breast, where did they fit in the order of precedence? I'm reworking my British board, and want to get it right. I'll look forward to the article. I've only had the reference from Dorling to date. I hope you place it in OMSA; I'm not a member of OMRS.