pmargulies

A friend, who is on the forum, sent me a pic of the guy and these could be twins!

Paul R, haven't bought it yet.  It is not inexpensive and would eat up my budget for the year.  It is a stellar group and he got the HSL as a shepherd if my Russian translation is right, which makes it even cooler.

Paul - thanks for your azdvice, now I just have to decide whether to pull the trigger or not.  It is not cheap by any means.

Dave - thanks for the reply, I was just looking at your group when you posted.  i am pretty confident about the medals and group. The only thing that seems to be missing is the small HSL book, but I am hopeful it turns up.  

More pics...

Another pic of the group...

this is the last of the close-ups.  Thoughts?

Will see if I can get some better pics up in a few.  This group was in my hands today and I may pull the trigger.  Anybody that wants to weigh in on whether they see anything that strikes them as being not legit, please let me know.  Would love the opinions of the group on valuation too.  For the Lenin in the middle, the number is present, just hard to read from the pics from my phone.  

I will see if I can get a copy of his paperwork.  If I didn't have the above, and with what I saw from him I would be satisfied that it was legit.  Strange things do hopes, mistakes occur...you name it.  The three ORBs is incredible.

Paul - here is a copy of the catch-up.  When one door closes, another one opens.  I was fortunate enough  to pick-up the interim style CG Com on USMF, but only b/c this deal fell through.

So, the story takes a twist in that I got the record card through Auke and it comes back to a Kyrgyz private.  It was a WW2 catch-up award issued in 1957.  I showed it to my 'pal' and he produced his own record card with all of his info.  He swears his is legit and can't explain it.  Mistakes do happen, so if his is legit and there was an error, then I am walking away from a great deal, but my gut says to run away and that is what I did.

very disappointed that this didn't work out and appreciate everyone sharing their knwowledge with me!

It is a 3,5xx,xxx Red Star.  I took another look at it today, and actually have the full number.  He is going to get me a copy of the citation and then I will decide on the deal.  Interestingly, went to another friend today and he said that Red Star awards for Afghanistan start at 3,7xx,xxx and end In the 3,8xx,xxx range.  He is a well known collector and has a very nice collection. When I asked Oleg about the discrepancy in the number, he said that his was a combat award presented to him in the field, whereas most other awards were made upon return.  Anyway, that is. Today's update on the Red Star.

Will post more once the transaction is complete.

Dave - anything scream out about this not being a legit Red Star?  I know this might be difficult without the number, but wonder what your thoughts are?

I haven't bought it yet and wanted some opinions since RedMaestro pointed out that there are no known 3,5xx,xxx range Red Stars for Afghanistan.  I am 90% certain this is 3,5xx,xxx and not 3,6xx,xxx, but I will be back in Bishkek in a few days and able to verify it then.  My friend, Oleg, obscured the number from the order and I scrubbed his name.  

Thoughts?

Wounded in Jalalabad.  Conscripted private.

Paul - don'tt have it yet, heading back CONUS for reserve duty for two weeks and then I will get it!

Ferdinand and Dave - appreciate the responses.  Soviet collecting is new to me and fakes abound even in Kyrgyzstan.  My acquaintance brought award and his medal book today, but I haven't made the final plunge.  I have a few more details and will get more once I seal the deal in a few weeks.  Looks like he got his Red Star for wounds received in action in Jalalabad in 1985.  It is a 3,5xx,xxx range order with corresponding book.  I will post everything, plus the info once it is all in hand.

Dave - thanks for the reply.  I watched some of your items sell/not sell on eBay and was surprised by it;  I thought about bidding on a few items b/c the price was right. I usually collect based on where I am living and right now it is Kyrgyzstan, and I have ventured off the path of Kyrgyz medals to Soviet ones.

The Red Star belongs to an acquaintance who earned it as a private.  I haven't seen the citation yet, but I am sure he will tell me the story.  He is going to give me the book too. I already have his Kyrgyz medals, earned as a GKNB (their successor to the KGB similar to other former Central Asian SSRs)  Colonel Alpha.  He is a knowledgable collector in his own right, and I have gotten a few good medals from him.

Almost done reading your book - excellent work.  

Paul

What is a fair price for a Red Star for service in Afghanistan, with the award book?  

Thanks

Jim and Matthew - I am new to Malta, living in Mosta, and wonder if there are any good flea markets for militaria or a collector's group?

Thanks,

Paul

Dear Jim,

I have come across this forum while looking for information about fort Campbell on the internet.

I live in St. Paul's Bay and as it turns out, I've been to Selmun just yesterday. The ruins of the fort raised my interest in knowing more of its history.

It's a pity for such a considerable area of the fort to be left in such a state, and you can see acts of vandalism in the form of graffiti is in every single room. Let alone the garbage allover. However, I was surprised to see a stack of stones supporting the ceiling in one of the rooms. Some people do care

I appreciate all the information you have given in this topic and would be interested in knowing more.

While I was exploring, I've seen a few other posts down by the cliffs to the north of the fort, along with another building by the coast (left part of picture 17 on your topic). Do you know if these posts and building were part of the same fort?

Thank you and regards,

Matthew

Kevin - This is as good as it gets... The rear is unmarked. It is roughly the size of a normal US miniature medal.

First try...

It is hard to tell, but the long service decoration is for 25 years.

First try...

Kevin - I see these every so often and usually they are over priced. I got this for 13US so I figured it was a good pick up. The box is a little loose where the top and bottom meet, but it was in overall good condition.

The design is based on the old Royal medal for service.

The box quality is superior in my opinion to the quality of the actual medal.

The medal ribbon never seems to sit snug in the medal ose

and is of a very rough texture and weave.

The mini ribbon is an enameled clip-back.

Must dig my examples out that I was given and post for comparison.

Kevin in Deva.

Kevin - I see these every so often and usually they are over priced. I got this for 13US so I figured it was a good pick up. The box is a little loose where the top and bottom meet, but it was in overall good condition.

Very nice

Can you enlarge the picture / crop the area of the medal bar for closer details?

At a guess:-

Order of the Star of Romania.

Balkan Campaign Medal of 1913

Romanian Cross of War for WW1

Officers Military Service Medal.

Romanian Inter-Allied Victory Medal for WW1.

40th Aniversary of Carol I Medal.

Kevin in Deva.

Kevin - I will see how good my photo editing skills are later today (not all that advanced), so I may not get what you are looking for. The medals are right on the money though. Actually, one of the sellers has a bar nearly identical to this for sell, the only difference is there is a Order of the Crown of Romania in place of the Balkan Campaign Medal and no long service medal. I've been drooling over it for weeks, but he wants 400US for it.