bigjarofwasps

Eric, what did Sgt Stone have to say?

Just a pawn...... http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,956255,00.html I also found this.... Jessica Lynch signed a few thousand different coins ranging from State Quarters, Silver Eagles, Commemoratives and the Westward Journey Nickels. Only 52 sets of those nickel sets exist. The 2003 Jessica Lynch signed Silver Eagles are genuine and approximately 5,000 to 10,000, & 600 2004 Jessica Lynch Silver Eagles. So she sat round, signing 10,000 pieces of paper.....nice they really spoiled her with that task hey!!!! & it gets worse.... Item number: 250143799683, This it really takes the biscuit!!!!

A British soldier was killed when the Basra Palace base came under rocket or mortar attack on 21 July. The MoD said that for operational reasons, it was not able to give details about the soldier's death.

Three RAF servicemen were killed in a mortar attack in Basra on 19 July. They were Senior Aircraftsmen Matthew Caulwell and Peter McFerran, from 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, and Senior Aircraftsman Christopher Dunsmore, of 504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The men had been on a break at a base when it came under fire. Squadron leader Jason Sutton, commanding officer of the 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, said SAC Caulwell, 22, from Birmingham, was "loyal and unfailingly dependable". He said SAC McFerran, 24, of Flintshire, was "every inch the epitome of a regiment gunner - robust, strong, dedicated and loyal". SAC Dunsmore, 29, from Leicester, had "put 100% into everything he did" since his attachment to the squadron last year, he added. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6909893.stm

To be fair, I think I`m right in thinking that the proceeds from these coins went to the Jessica Lynch Foundation, but I maybe way off? I think the fact that her awards have now clearly been given for circumstances & deeds, that are in fact flawed, they mean nothing, and certainly devalue ones genuinely earned. I wonder has she ever worn them in public since? Is she in fact still serving?

I must admit, I find the whole Bronze Star thing very confusing. I know of two guys who for sure got Bronze Stars along with their Purple Hearts, granted they were both killed in the process, so I`m not passing any comments on that. I just find the whole criteria for this award very hazy to say the least. Re Lynch`s award, I assume she wasn`t awarded it with `V` for valour? The Bronze Star certainly gets issued out en mass, but then again the same can be said of the ARCOM award. I believe that Lynch was also awarded the POW medal, again was she technically a POW, or just a wounded solider, they took into their care. Whatever the score, it all came out in the wash in the end didn`t it. Getting back on topic, I feel these coins are total rubbish, and I certianly wouldn`t pay over the going rate for a eagle for one!!!

Guys, Have a look at this, I`d very much like to hear your views on this Eagle, Ebay- Item number: 330047275372 Is she still considerd to be a hero in the US, now that the trueth has come out?

SEPTEMBER 11 COINS An August 6 Wall Street Journal article put the spotlight on "September 11" coins being marketed as relics from the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. "The coins -- some gold, others platinum, but mostly silver -- were in an underground vault below 4 World Trade Center that belonged to ScotiaMocatta, the precious-metals trading unit of Bank of Nova Scotia, also known as Scotiabank. A Bank of Nova Scotia spokeswoman said a coin specialist and wholesaler approached Bank of Nova Scotia and offered to buy some of the coins from the Toronto bank. The coins are being sold in plastic coin holders emblazoned with the phrase "9-11-01 WTC Ground Zero Recovery." The bank isn't involved in the sale of the coins." "It's morbid, disgusting and shocks the senses that any individual or corporation could capitalize on the Sept. 11 tragedy in this horrid way," said Scott A. Travers..." "This is a rather extreme case of making money with the World Trade Center," said Ute Wartenberg Kagan, executive director of the American Numismatic Society..." ScotiaBank's 12 tons of gold ScotiaBank's 12 tons of gold and 30 million ounces of silver, buried beneath the WTC, have been recovered and are being convoyed by Brink's trucks to another location.

Three RAF servicemen were killed after encountering an "indirect fire attack" in Basra on 19 July. Two of the men were from 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, while the other served with 504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Next of kin have been informed. The dead men have not yet been named.

Between 1920 and 1922 the British put down an Iraqi revolt costing them 40 million pounds to do so. 2003- to date, THE invasion and occupation of Iraq has cost British taxpayers more than ?4 billion, it emerged last night as a senior officer outlined plans to withdraw nearly all soldiers from the area by the summer of 2008. Since the war began in March 2003, around ?1 billion a year has been spent on operations and equipment costs.

Cheers Guys, & we think its a mess out there now!!!!!!

Cheers Geof, that seems a little unfair, but then again I suppose they were protecting their home land, and thus maybe it was their civic duty to assist in the fight? Just a thought. I do recall from the programme that one of the Islanders was made an Honourary Para, and was allowed to match with them on the Victory Parade threw Stanley, sorry but I don`t recall his name, but he had a huge beard and was wearing a very wooley jumper.

Thought I was right...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Medal Above link might be of interest?

Hi interesting thread, don`t quote me on this but I`m sure that NATO have issued a Meritous Service Medal type thing, I`ll have a dig around and see if I can confirm this.......

Hi Guys, I was reading an article recently about clasp issues for the various battles & phases of the South Africa War. I was surprised about the similarities between this campaign and the current one in Iraq, but thats a topic for another thread. My question for this one is, does anyone know the criteria to be awarded the QSA Medal with no clasps? Gordon.

How very interesting!!!!! Do go into more detail, I`d very much like to know, more. Does anyone know if any books been written about this campaign?

Hi Guys, Watched a very interesting documentary on Sky yesterday. It was about the South Atlantic campaign, and the role played by the Islanders themselves. I had no idea they`d taken such an active role in the war. I was under the misguilded impression, that they were all kept locked in cattle sheds. But this certainly wasn`t the case, they kept the Paras on Longdon supplied with ammo, at considerable risk to themeselves, they carried the wounded to the Aid Stations, etc,etc. My question is, were they issued with the SA Medal for thier efforts? Does anyone know. Gordon.

Corporal Christopher Read, 22, from Poole, Dorset, of 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police died in hospital on 7 July. Cpl Read was injured by small arms fire while returning in the early hours of the morning from an operation in Basra targeting groups thought to be behind recent attacks. Lt Col Simon Miller, commanding officer 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, said Cpl Read was a "rising star". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6284172.stm

Watched a very interest documentary about the whole 911 thing, its called `Loose Change`, if you haven`t seen it its well worth a watch. It poses some interesting views of the whole incident, some very embarresing issues for the US government, I shouldn`t wonder. It also has a small bit about the gold in the vaults, under the WTC.

Cpl White from 1 RIFLES established himself as the best shot in the Army on Friday when he won the Queens Medal in spectacular fashion. Cpl White came from 14 points behind on equal third to clinch the coveted title from Capt Sam Roberts, a fellow Rifleman from 3 RIFLES. Does anyone know if you wear this medal, with your campaign, etc, medals, or is it a keep sake type affair?

CALL-UP FOR HERO KILLED IN IRAQ Published on 02/07/2007 Den Brady, who was killed on duty in IraqDEFENCE chiefs today apologised after sending a recruitment letter to a Barrow soldier killed in Iraq. The call-up was received by the heartbroken mum of Lance Corporal Dennis Brady. The 37-year-old medic, known as Den, was killed by a mortar in Basra in October last year. Ministry of Defence chiefs have now phoned Brenda Brady, of Vulcan Road, to apologise for sending the letter, which asked the reservist to sign up for more service. Outraged Defence Secretary Des Browne has called for an investigation. The MOD said The Adjutant General Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers personally called Mrs Brady to apologise for the blunder. Today Mrs Brady told the Evening Mail the situation had “all been sorted”. The MOD has now also put a recruitment mailshot on hold as the scandal is being investigated. A spokesperson for the MoD said: “We apologise again for any upset this error has caused. “The Adjutant General Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers has spoken to the mother and apologised and we have stopped our next planned mailshot to ensure this does not happen again.” Former Alfred Barrow School pupil, L/Cpl Brady was serving in Iraq as a reservist with the Royal Army Medical Corps, having left the regular Army in 2004. He had a long and illustrious career and had served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Croatia. He was described as professional, selfless, loving and courageous. An MPs committee report due to be published tomorrow is expected to announce that staffing shortages in the armed forces mean that there are not enough servicemen and women to meet the demands placed on them by military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Third UK soldier killed in Iraq Soldiers were involved in a large-scale operation in Basra Three British soldiers have died in two days following a major operation against insurgents in southern Iraq

Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23, died following an accident at a military base in the city on 6 July. Rifleman Edward Vakabua Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, died at the Basra Palace base. The Ministry of Defence has not given any details of the accident, but said an investigation had begun. Rifleman Edward Vakabua was a "shy and pleasant" character, a spokesman said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3847051.stm

Lance Corporal Ryan Francis, 23, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, from Llanelli, south Wales, was killed in Basra on 7 July when his Warrior armoured vehicle was hit by a bomb. Lance Corporal Ryan Francis The soldier died in fighting involving 1,000 troops who faced machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades as British forces launched an operation targeting groups thought to be behind recent attacks. Lt Col James Swift, commanding officer of the battalion said he was a "professional, brave and committed soldier who was the heart and soul of his platoon". A second soldier who was seriously injured in the heavy fighting in Basra died from his wounds on Saturday. He has not been named but he is from 3 Regiment Royal Military Police. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3847051.stm