ostprussenmann_new

ralstona This photo was taken about 5-6 years ago. He did not show any medals, just the photo.

That I don't remember. I am thinking maybe Armenian since he was christain. Maybe Kurdish. He spoke good English, Arabic, Farsi, and German. It was a long time ago, but I am still tryin to find the story in my files. The story says it all.

I met the guy in Baghdad,Iraq during '05-06. He lived with his daughter in a Christain house in the sector next to the former Ministry of Intelligence, the turned into a Forward Operating Base. He (I forgot his name, will have to check my journal), was stationed somewhere in Iraq a litle prior to WW2 and eventually as the war came to the Middle East. He fought the Germans. He met an Armenian woman and ended up marrying her. After his service time ended, he stayed in Iraq and raised his family. When Iraq won their independance, he became a citizen and lost a son in the Iran-Iraq War. He stated that his family roamed around Iraq for some years and eventually settled into a Christain Muhallah that was located next to the MOI. He witnessed the Persian Gulf War and the Invasion. His house ended up being sevelry damage as a result of Coalition Airstrikes in 2003, but stayed place because of the safety of his Muhallah. My unit met his daughter and she invited us to his home to try to help rebuild his house, which we did. After our tour, we lost track of him, but he became good friends with my Battlaion Commander. I really need to find his name; I am sure that will help with the research.

That is pretty interesting. Does anyone have any history on the Unit?

Interesting point of view, but if it brings some type of piece for Mrs. Davenport or another family member, then why not. As dmiller8 stated, its not going on a DD214, so why not.

I think that is very interesting. I am glad that they incorporated the Citadel, since that school and Clemson contributed to the Civil War. In addition, its great for a state to show the appreciation for its fallen. Yes, the Purple Heart is the Federal Award, but no piece of tin or bronze could replace a lost family member.

I have also always liked the "Charge of the Light Brigade" by Tennyson also.

The line that I have inscribed on my military college ring is "To Strive, To Seek, To Find, and not to Yield." This simple line has always inspired me. It is one of my favorite poems. Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses." It little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole Unequal laws unto a savage race, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me. I cannot rest from travel; I will drink Life to the lees. All times I have enjoy'd Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone; on shore, and when Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades Vext the dim sea. I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart Much have I seen and known,-- cities of men And manners, climates, councils, governments, Myself not least, but honor'd of them all,-- And drunk delight of battle with my peers, Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use! As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life Were all too little, and of one to me Little remains; but every hour is saved >From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things; and vile it were For some three suns to store and hoard myself, And this gray spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought. This is my son, mine own Telemachus, to whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,-- Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfill This labor, by slow prudence to make mild A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees Subdue them to the useful and the good. Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere Of common duties, decent not to fail In offices of tenderness, and pay Meet adoration to my household gods, When I am gone. He works his work, I mine. There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail; There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners, Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me,-- That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed Free hearts, free foreheads,-- you and I are old; Old age hath yet his honor and his toil. Death closes all; but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks; The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends. 'T is not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,-- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Those are Great. Any other stuff come with them?

Hopefully they try to preserve it. Great find on the story.

Chris, Interesting grouping. Love the shrapnel piece.

Hzenba2012, to answer your question about peace or non wartime service: 1) Top Frame is all for War time Service: The Gold star medals is actually called the Silver Star (USA's 3rd highest award for bravery) and the other star medal is called a Bronze Star. 2) 2nd Frame is Mostly Marine Corps (the middle one, if original is a WW2 era Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal=might actually be serial numbered) On the far left as you look at it is a US Army Good Conduct Medal. The far right looks like an American Campaign Medal. 3) Bottom Frame: Bottom row Middle is the Distinguished Flying Cross, then going right the Air Medal, and finally the Purple Heart (all wartime). Hope this helps.

That is amazing that we continue to find such interesting remnants on the the battlefields of Europe.

Sad, Sad Story.

It is a shame that these awards or some version of them are sstill not authorized inthe German Bundeswehr. I think they should at least bring back a Pre-1914 EK version. Their current awards system, just doesn't make any sense. The photos are great. I wonder where many of the uniforms and awards are now?

I just stumbled upon this thread. I would say that when we are old and gray and don't care anymore, they will be authorized. The example that comes to mind is with what was done to the Korean (US) veterans. The ROK Defense Medal was authorized either in the late 1990s or early 2000's, which was a ROK award authorized to US personnel. Other point mentionon another sites is "Is Afghanistan really Free?" Right now, I would say no. Overall, great discussion.

Never seen that one before. Very nice and unique.

Hugh, That is a neat tradition. We get our rings at Parent's day weekend. Then we have a Dance called the RING HOP. Every Company normally invites a member of the Cadre back from the Senior Graduating Class, when we were Knobs (Freshmen). We invited our Cadre Platoon Leader. We wear our rings on the left finger (married to the Corps) with the '03 facing towards us. When we graduate, we face the '03 facing out. Our Ring design hasn't changed since 1918 (minus the year changes). Overall, I think all US Service Academies and Sr Military Collegeis have great traditions. I think that this is a great forum to share everything.

This is not my ring, but this is my Class Ring, which looks exactly as this, but a little bit more worn. It is 10 K Gold. They used to come in 14 K in the past.

I can't speak for all military colleges, but the Citadel's Alumni Association has the obligation to buy back any rings that are offered for sale on the public market. occasionally they show up in pawn shops and ebay. The cadets at the Citadel pay for and only own 49% of their rings and the school owns 51%. I will post some pictures of mine. Another neat fact about our rings is that Alumni who pass away are given the option of either being buried with it or give it back to the citadel, where the ring is melted down and added to the graduating class's rings. I believe the year that I graduated, we had a '42; '54; '67 grad's rings melted down. Honestly, I can tell you that when I eventually pass, mine is going back to the Alumni association.

I think out of all of the Sr Military colleges in the US, Norvich and VMI have the largest rings. Citadel and Texas AM have very similar rings. Virgina Tech; don't anything about. Is Norwich Free Academy the same as Norwich (Military)? If I am not mistaken, alumni get a Gold Ring with a stone in it and a "Combat Ring" that is Silver with no stones right?

Very sharp looking. I have never seen that before.

Well, I still have my class ring from Highschool, but I do not wear it; 1) it doesn't fit; 2) I have a College Ring from my Military School that means more to me and yes, I wear it everyday.

Wow, that is pretty amazing. Great find.