Ulsterman

That's the Bay of Pigs for the rest of you who were wondering.

No-but most artists seem to be employed by the state. A quick google search shows a number of artists-or cultural types: librarians also get the medal, actors, radio actors/announcers, painters and sculptors , musicians and dancers who have this medal and are about 35-55 years of age. Most seem to be active or quasi active party members or active in affiliated unions/groups. Pretty much every obscure artist I can locate on the web from Cuba has this medal, so long as they've kept their nose clean. The medal is apparently awarded by the Union of Cultural workers".

Awarded by the Ministry of Education for advanced scholarly merit and/or Cuban cultural educational advancement. pretty much any Cuban academic over the age of 45 and who isn't a hack has been given this medal. Mostly awarded 1993 onwards I notice.

" Amistad"= "Friendship" ("Amity"): http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...cial%26hs%3Dlla

Yup-seems to be a lower level-you are a member of the provinical orchestra-you get this medal.

It is positively for merit and sometimes for long service in the ANAP.

wierd- I see references out there to 15 years service, but also even wierder-it's been awarded to microbiologists and other teachers and union officials.

For revolutionary journalists! Great stuff Stogiemon! http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...%3DNNF%26sa%3DX

Another "farmer's medal: see the biography attached below.... http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/especiales/ju...ciales19jun.htm

very cool.

For excellent cigar tobacco growing! No joke! http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...cial%26hs%3DksZ

I would bet ports and coastal police. He was killed with Che in Bolivia and the first head of the ports and Coastguards Police.

OMG!! Superb. Really world class.

ooops- my error. I thought it was a pre 1956 army officers' cap badge.

Thank you Dave! I owe you one.

...and the OMSA site too right Ed?

yeah-but what are the odds of someone else having that combo with no LS medals? 1:1000?

Sarge: Do you perchance know what ribbon the last medal had? Was it Burgendy and solid perhaps?

Nice- I like using the old CD as ground. Charles Grant always talked about how important it was to try to recreate "space occupied" by troops in a wargame to get the proper fell for maneuvering-this does it well. Great paint job too.

Great medal- and a GREAT regiment. To have seen what he saw that day-

no-they are rounder. But GREAT schutzprize though!

Heres the larger view.... Sorry-the photo is just faded:

Here's a snap of some troops in China at the turn of the century or thereabouts...anyone know what the armshields are? Are they marksman's competition awards?

The majority of these men were free Masons- and members of the same lodge to boot! Shhhhhhhh

Note the date on the letter....the SA rEservists were busy putting them on.