JPL

The family of World War II hero Ted Kenna will drink a beer in his honour after his medals, including a Victoria Cross, were sold to a mystery buyer for more than $1 million. The VC was the centrepiece in a collection of 10 of Kenna's medals that were displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra until being sold at a Melbourne auction on Thursday. A bidder, taking her instructions from a mystery caller, paid $1,002,000 for the collection - a world record for Australian medals. Mr Kenna's medal, earned for single-handedly taking out a Japanese machine-gun post, is the first WWII VC to be sold publicly and is one of only 20 awarded to Australian soldiers during the war. The bidder told AAP the buyer, and what the buyer planned to do with the medal, would remain secret. Read the entire article: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/wwii-vc-heros-medals-fetch-1-million-20110728-1i1ry.html Another link showing the medals: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/victoria-cross-sold-as-part-of-1m-haul-for-ted-kenna-war-medals/story-e6frg6nf-1226103711275 Jean-Paul

Here is another interesting article regarding the Silver Star. The Silver Star is only given to service members who have shown incredible heroism during combat. It was an award given to Vietnam veteran Wade Sanders in 1992. But now, that award has been taken away from the San Diego resident and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus revoked the award last August but it only became public recently. Mabus wouldn't give a specific reason for the revocation, only saying that he "had subsequently determined facts and evidence surrounding both the incident for which the award was made and processing of the award itself been known to the Navy in 1992, those facts would have prevented the award of the Silver Star." In 2009, Sanders was convicted and sent to prison for possessing child pornography. Read the entire article: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/126302193.html Jean-Paul

Frank, Thanks for this. Interesting to see that there are quotas. Jean-Paul

Frank, Thanks for this info. Would it be possible to post a link to the 25 June 2004 decree in order to make this post more complete? Thanks JPL

Another interesting article, including photos and video of the posthumous award of the NZ Bravery Star to Austin Hemmings. Read the complete article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5350202/Pain-and-pride-as-heroes-families-accept-awards/ Jean-Paul

Found this interesting article: http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/110708-F-DE377-001.JPG French forces awarded three 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Airmen the National Defense Gold Medal with bronze star. French Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Maurin, Task Force La Fayette IV commander, presented Capt. John Mosier, HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot, Tech. Sgt. Kristopher Burridge and Senior Airman Jackson Rogers, both pararescue jumpers, the medals for their heroic actions for rescuing two French Gazelle helicopter pilots June 11. Read the complete article: http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123263719 Jean-Paul

Yes, some of these Special Forces soldiers are wearing a lot of ribbons on their uniforms. Mind you, both the Iraq and Afghanistan theatres have both made use of special forces type units due to the kind of fighting being experienced. Yes, would be interesting to see what the citations say. I had a quick look on the web and found this link which provides additional information: http://shadowspear.com/vb/threads/national-guard-special-forces-soldiers-receive-french-croix-de-la-valeur-militaire.11051/ Jean-Paul

Special Forces Soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group and the 20th Special Forces Group have received the French Croix de la Valeur Militaire from the French Government. Click here to read the complete story and view photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/5977196855/in/photostream/ Jean-Paul

Here is an interesting article regarding the awards of Haiti. Former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, has been decorated at the National Palace by the President Martelly of the National Order of Honor and Merit to the rank Grand Cross gold plated. This decoration is awarded "for his various initiatives in Haiti and especially his high contribution to the reconstruction of the country after the earthquake of January 12, 2010". Read the complete article here: http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3429-haiti-social-bill-clinton-receives-the-national-order-of-honor-and-merit-to-the-rank-grand-cross-gold-plated.html Jean-Paul

Came across this article that might be of interested to those interested in Life Saving Medals: http://www.peterleemail.co.uk/news/local/lifeboat_mechanic_s_medals_could_net_1_800_1_3600108 Jean-Paul

A Marine who braved intense enemy gunfire in Afghanistan to recover the bodies of four fallen comrades will receive the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Dakota Meyer will be the third living recipient of the award for actions in Afghanistan and the tenth man recognized for exceptional bravery in the current wars. He’ll also be the first living Marine to receive the honor since the Vietnam War. Read the complete story here: http://www.stripes.com/news/former-marine-to-receive-medal-of-honor-for-controversial-2009-battle-1.149651 Jean-Paul

Here is the link to the Defense News article on this latest award of the Medal of Honor: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=64664 Jean-Paul

Here is a link to the Royal Warrant for this new British medal: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_128218.pdf Here is a link showing the medal without its ribbon: http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/ambulance-workers-to-be-honoured-with-new-medal/201115724 Jean-Paul

A good reference on this topic is "Revised Comprehensive List of World War I Service Medals Issued by States, Counties, Cities & Towns" by Louis W. Small. Jean-Paul

Just came across this news items showing the British Diamond Jubilee Medal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13939458 Here is the link to the actual image of the medal: http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_198085.jpg Jean-Paul

The link to the report is missing... Jean-Paul

Another look by the Australians to see if the VC can be awarded. The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) is directed to inquire into and report on the appropriate recognition for specific acts of gallantry or valour performed by the following naval and military personnel: Gunner Albert Neil (Neale) Cleary - Army Midshipman Robert Ian Davies - Navy Leading Cook Francis Bassett Emms - Navy Lieutenant David John Hamer - Navy Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick - Army Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin - Navy Able Seaman Dalmorton Joseph Owendale Rudd - Navy Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean - Navy Leading Aircrewman Noel Ervin Shipp - Navy Lieutenant Commander Francis Edward Smith - Navy Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Stoker - Royal Navy Leading Seaman Ronald Taylor - Navy Captain Hector Macdonald Laws Waller - Navy Read the complete document here: http://www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au/Websites/dhat/Images/documents/Valour_Terms%20of%20Reference.pdf Here is a newspaper article containing more details on each recipient: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/04/23/227171_ntnews.html Jean-Paul

Here is a news item related to the awarding of 3 Kirti Chakras medals: Three army personnel were conferred the Kirti Chakra, India's second highest peacetime gallantry medal, by President Pratibha Patil for displaying conspicuous bravery. Those who received the Kirti Chakra medals were Major Rahul Gurung of Corps of Engineers, now serving with 12 Assam Rifles, Captain Deepak Sharma, a Signals officer serving with 42 Rashtriya Rifles, who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in March 2010, and Captain Vikrant Ajit Deshmukh of 8 Madras Regiment. Read the complete article: http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=233421 Jean-Paul

Here is yet another interesting article: Sailors aboard the navy transport ships HMAS Jervis Bay and HMAS Tobruk who supported operations in Somalia during the 1990s will be eligible to wear the Australian Active Service Medal. But the government gave the thumbs down to creating a special Somalia campaign medal and won't be awarding the 1st Battalion (1RAR) a meritorious unit citation. Defence said the government had accepted the recommendations of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal inquiry into recognising the Australian Defence Force service in Somalia between 1992 and 1996. Advertisement: Story continues belowIn that period, Australia deployed a 1000-member battlegroup based on 1RAR for three months plus smaller contingents supporting the United Nations mission. They were supported by ships and aircraft. In all, some 1600 Australian personnel served in Somalia for varying periods. The deployment of 1RAR was the first major deployment of Australian combat troops since Vietnam. One soldier was killed accidentally and three were wounded in firefights with bandits. Former personnel argued they hadn't been sufficiently recognised and the 1RAR deserved a meritorious unit citation (MUC) for its outstanding performance in a hazardous and arduous environment. The tribunal disagreed. "While the service of 1RAR in Somalia was commendable, it was not sustained, outstanding service in warlike operations of the kind required to justify the award of an MUC," it said. Similarly, the tribunal rejected striking a specific Somalia campaign medal. However, those who served in Somalia are eligible for either the Australian Service Medal (ASM) or Australian Active Service Medal (AASM), both with Somalia clasp. The tribunal found the crews of Tobruk and Jervis Bay should be eligible for the AASM instead of just the ASM. That's because the port of Mogadishu required a high level of security to protect against bandit and militia activity. But it said the Tobruk and Jervis Bay crews should not be recommended for the UN medal on grounds that they weren't assigned to the UN and did not meet the 90-day eligibility criteria. Read the complete article here: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/somalia-sailors-eligible-for-aust-medal-20110419-1dmtw.html Jean-Paul

Here is something that I was not aware of. According to the article 14 British and 5 Australian gallantry decorations have an allowance. I'm not aware of this being in place for Canadian awards. Let me know if I'm wrong. How about NZ? Australian war heroes have been ripped off for decades as governments have refused to increase decoration allowances in line with inflation. World War II and Vietnam veterans who were awarded the third highest medal for bravery, the Military Cross or Military Medal, are short thousands of dollars. In 1945, the allowance for the MM was sixpence a day about 1/80th of average weekly wages. Today they are paid only $1.05 a week or 1/1200th of average weekly wages ($1272). The MM is one of 14 Imperial and five Australian gallantry decorations that attract an allowance. It remained sixpence a day from 1943 to 1966, when it was converted to $2 a fortnight. In the past 45 years it has risen by 10 cents a fortnight to $2.10. By comparison, Victoria Cross recipients receive an annual allowance of $3848 or $148 a fortnight. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/anzac-day/heroes-reward-amounts-to-a-paltry-sum/story-e6frfldi-1226041843703#ixzz1KFkosJKV Jean-Paul

Here is a link to the latest award of the Medal of Bravery to Norman Anderson. http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14084 Jean-Paul

Tul Bahadur Pun, a Nepalese soldier who won Britain's highest military honour and later spearheaded the Gurkha rights campaign, has died in his home village, his lawyer said. Pun was awarded the rare Victoria Cross, the greatest possible decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy, for his extraordinary heroics in Burma in June 1944. He single-handedly stormed a Japanese machine gun position, under heavy fire. Pun's death leaves just one living recipient from World War II, and only eight in total. He died in his home village of Myagdi. His official age was 88, but his real age was thought to be 92. Read the complete story and see the picture of Pun wearing his medals: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gWlbcPqe4Da7LGalHUh8at_zgZRQ?docId=CNG.9057d69a3ac96dafe3eb30ac1711a0b9.d1 Jean-Paul

Just wondering how common and/or rare is the Gold Cross Medal. Jean-Paul

Makes for good press though... Jean-Paul

A sniffer dog found after 13 months missing in Afghanistan has been given Australia's highest animal bravery award, the Purple Cross. Sarbi, a black labrador retriever, went missing after a Taliban ambush on her unit in Uruzgan province left nine wounded including her handler. The RSPCA's national president Lynne Bradshaw praised her "incredible resilience and strength".She is only the second animal to receive this honour. The only previous recipient of the award was a donkey called Murphy, who carried wounded from the battlefield in Gallipoli during World War I. Read the complete article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12970876 Jean-Paul