Ulsterman

"Soon, soon he will be mine!" Ha ha!!

Never say never; I heard the Lubeck roll is done. COs were not given to NCOs. I'd bet he was born @ 1880-1890, served in the navy and the bar dates to @ 1937-40.... Very, very nice bar!

Now THAT is an interesting statement. I would VERY much like to see evidence of this. The number of silver level awards in WW2 was enormous-there were well over 1 million amputees alone. There's been some serious academic work done on German WW2 casualties and the statistical breakdowns of who/what/when/where and if that is true I reckon that means the estimated number of awarded EK2s just doubled or tripled.

Note that bar #1 is a European style manufactured bar. The bronze star lacks the V device (which I think denotes the CIB award in 1947). There were a LOT of senior Sergeant types who made it to officer because they stayed on with the occupation forces into the 1960s. Volunteering to reenlist in 1946 often got one a bump in grade as a reward. I grew up with a bunch of guys (my Dads' poker pals) who did this. They started me collecting. The USAAF was part of the army until it was made a separate military branch, but older USAAC men continued to wear their LS ribbons, despite the new USAF ribbon (established 1965?). One thing I have noted in war time /demob. photos is that a LOT of US military guys wore their ribbons in chronological order.

Prosper knows quite a bit. Guttman ended up in the USA with a pension from the Third Reich. Toland interviewed him.

According to Eturin, there are fake flat painted stars out there-some of odd colors too. We know from intact groups shown in the past that the BB&Co. versions were war time pieces. I suspect they were either private purchase (as Kleitman said) and/or issued by government contract by the Ottomans. The Germans/Austrians made 70% of the equipment the Ottoman forces used, so it isn't illogical to suppose that there was also an order for better quality stars.

In #3, the "A" device signifies "Atlantic Fleet" service between June 22 1941 and December 7, 1941. This was when the US navy was 'passive-aggressive' against U Boats threatening allied British convoys. The stars on the good conduct denote terms of enlistment. In #4, the second ribbon is the Pacific Theatre campaign ribbon.

Definitely Doughboys @ 1918-1919. Can you focus on the hat badge at all? Looks exactly like the uniforms I have in my attic from Granddad.

Interesting. I have been doing this on eBay for German medal bars (with many pics) since 1999. It allows me to see what's been nobbled/changed too. Before the site went to anonymous bidders (which one can suss only after when they give feedback) I could even track the instant mark-up for many dealers.

Out- standing!!!!! That handwriting is fantastic!!

really???? Do tell- any surprises yet?

Depends on the year doesn't it? EK2,EH ribbon, MAYBE, rarely an Austrian and/or Bulgarian decoration and a state Order of some sort. Pioneers got around a bit more and if he was in Romania or the East, I wouldn't be surprised to see an Austrian Military Merit Order on the bar. If it has a wound badge its Summer, 1918 + However, if its Reichsheer (1921+) -a few commemoratives might well pepper the mix....or a Silesian Eagle or Baltic cross ribbon.

Is he tracable? We have the EK2 list, so I would suppose the Bav. medal list is also available.

what's a "Mullen"?

Imperial trains?

Les has sussed it. Oddly the "German Divisions" book doesn't mention the 'battle', although it was a big deal at the time. I have a lot of material on the 26th-it being a "home town" unit. Some Connecticut men reported it as an 'attack by the Prussian guards' but that was vets' puffery. see here: http://www.1914-18.info/erster-weltkrieg.php?u=405&info=78.Reserve-Division&start=60 There's some great WW1 film of the 26th in February/March @ 6 weeks before their bloody nose. -small world huh given LtdR. Webers' diary on your site. see also the Osprey book on the AEF campaigns in 1918, pp.30 ("259 RIR") The source above says that the attack was led by the Sturmbattalion (who infiltrated a la Szorzeny beforehand) supported by the 259th and two companies of the 258th, with the 260th in flanking support. Interestingly, in snouting round all the different books, it really gives one a feel for how sources were used and altered and slight changes became bigger ones over time.

Is the Egyptian one (the armor DI) from the 1960s-70s?

VERY, very, very, very cool!!! You a lucky, lucky man! Perhaps worth an article one day???? Congratulations.

Got the photos today. This new board confounds me, so i may not be able to post scans. However, it clearly says "Bruder Karl" on one in ballpoint pen.

very cool! What sort of things did they police?

The Law enforcement commendation medal is actually awarded by the Fraternal organization, the Sons of the American revolution. The last one of these awarded in my town went to a cop who saved a guy's life by making a tourniquet from a bungee cord after the guys' leg had been ripped off when he hit a tree.

Ah Ha! I found my notes on this sale from 2003. Grolmans' stuff sold by Detlev included: 1. Promo doc to General 1890, signed by the Kaiser ($138) 2. Promotion to Cic. Counsel, 1895: with telegram ($69) signed by Auguste Victoria 3. Personal Congrats on 50th year signed ($138) 4. Colonelcy of 3rd leib Rgt. 1899, signed ($138) 5. Promotion to Governor of Prussian Les Invalides of Berlin: 1889 6. Award of Black Eagle 1892 ($345) 7. Letter, RE: Kaiser manouvre 1891 signed ($138) 8. Colonelcy of 4th Leib, 1891 9. Photo album ($230) 10. Misc. General's photos (me)

Ah ha! Ordensammler perhaps?You outbid me. I think that was once part of an enormous group sold by Detlev. I suspect it is the same Grolman. I have some of his photos. He ended up and General of Infantry @1890 and commanded the 4th and later the 3rd Leib regiments. He was socially creme-d-la creme. He was made General Council in 1895 to the Empress I believe.

Thanks lads!! Now, when the cards get here perhaps there will some useful writing on the backs...stay tuned to this space.

wow! Mint!