JPL

Arnold Schwarzenegger has received France's Legion of Honor, the country's most prestigious national decoration. The former California governor was given the prize at a special ceremony held in Cannes, where he also had his hands cast in cement to later be displayed on the city's Walk of Fame. Read the complete article and see the video of the presentation here: http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/news/a313142/arnold-schwarzenegger-receives-french-honor.html Jean-Paul

The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa has acquired an Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea earned by a Canadian naval volunteer who was killed trying to prevent the Halifax explosion of 1917. Albert Charles Mattison, 44, commanded a small steamboat that tried to approach the French ship Mont-Blanc, which had caught fire in Halifax harbour after collision with the Norwegian vessel Imo. The War Museum paid £19,000 (about $30,000) for the medal at auction in London. The Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea was introduced in 1866 and named in honour of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Queen Victoria. The medal was awarded until 1971 to individuals for saving lives at sea. The medal was awarded to Mattison on Feb. 18, 1919. Read the complete article here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/04/07/halifax-explosion-medal.html Jean-Paul

Warrant Officer Pieter Odendaal, 42, and three other police officers were decorated for bravery yesterday by national police commissioner Bheki Cele at the police training academy in Pretoria West. Odendaal, who has been in the force for 21 years, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sanet Williams, were on their way home after their shifts when they drove past an accident scene in Kliprivier Drive, Mulbarton, southern Johannesburg, in the early hours of June 28 2009. "We immediately turned around. I ran towards the van. I realised there were flames," Odendaal said. "I opened the door and heard a woman scream: 'My baby, my baby .' I couldn't see the child because the van was full of smoke." Odendaal found the six-year-old boy under the dashboard and pulled him out of the van. He went back to the burning van four times to rescue the boy's mother, father, grandmother and a family friend. Odendaal and Williams received Gold Cross medals for bravery, and constables Amerzon Daniel McLean and John Gerald Michie received Silver Cross bravery medals for rescuing a four-year-old girl from a burning house. Read the complete article here: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article1009127.ece/Hero-cops-lauded The article also contains a picture of Odendaal wearing his 4 police medals along with his new Gold Cross Medal. Jean-Paul

Here is a link to the list of the latest nominees for the Carnegie Hero Medal: http://www.carnegiehero.org/awardees_recent.php Jean-Paul

Here is a link to the latest information on this new New Zealand medal: http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/n/index.html Jean-Paul

Here is a link to the latest New Zealand Bravery Awards recipients: http://www.gg.govt.nz/special_list_bravery Jean-Paul

Medal of Honor day is tomorrow, March 25. In the spirit of the brave service members, many of which were awarded the medal posthumously, we present the Pentagon Channel’s production “Souls of Valor.” This is a 55 minute video. Here is the link: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/03/medal-of-honor-day-souls-of-valor/ Enjoy Jean-Paul

Here is the latest on this topic: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld an earlier ruling made last summer by a three-judge panel of the full circuit court. It determined that the law was in contravention of the First Amendment right to free speech and didn't come within any existing exceptions, that related to speech considered hateful or defamatory. It is reported that dozens of people have been tried and convicted of violating the federal law, most of which were sentenced to community service. Judge Kozinski's opinion included the following, "Saints may always tell the truth, but for mortals living means lying.” Alvarez's statements were untrue and yet, harmless to anyone but himself, as claims of winning the Medal of Honor are easily verified. Using another comparison to hateful speech that shocks the conscience of patriots, Kozinski wrote that the Stolen Valor Act could not possibly cover more egregious behavior than flag burning or using nasty words to ridicule the deceased at a military funeral. That final reference is to the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Westboro Baptist Church case, in which the Court upheld the right of members of a congregation to picket military funerals and use distressing and vile language aimed at the family and the fallen soldier. In that case, the Court ruled that the taunts on picketers signs were protected speech. It overturned a civil jury verdict for millions in damages awarded to Albert Snyder, the father of a fallen soldier Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder who claimed intentional infliction of emotional distress. Writing for the 8-1 majority on the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts said, "As a nation we have chosen...to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate. That choice requires that we shield Westboro from tort liability for its picketing in this case." According to reports of the Alvarez decision, seven members of the 26-judge Ninth Circuit panel dissented, voting not to overturn the conviction. With that many judges taking an opposite position to the majority, some legal experts predict that the case will land in the lap of the Supreme Court. Whether the Court will choose to hear the case is unknown at this time and in the event that Alvarez is chosen for a hearing, the decision in the Westboro Church case will have some weight in the minds of the justices. Read the complete article: http://www.huliq.com/10061/judge-equates-claiming-medal-honor-dating-site-fib Jean-Paul

Hi, Just came across another interesting article: Johnson received the Croix de Guerre, becoming the first American in World War I to receive one of France's highest military honors. But he, like many other black soldiers who served in the war, never received official recognition from the U.S. military. A rail station porter in Albany before the war, Johnson returned home only to die a penniless alcoholic. He was believed to have been buried in a pauper's grave, but his final resting place was found in Arlington National Cemetery in 2002. The next year, Johnson posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross. Read the complete article: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP4e2ab3e033cd412e87f6b87f23c31bac.html This has probably been brought up before, but I'm curious to see what forum members feel should be a "suitable time" to got back to revisit the awarding or lack of awarding of a award. Is WWI going back a little too far? Jean-Paul

Hi Antonio, Thank you for making this valuable reference available to the membership. Jean-Pauo

Just came across another very interesting article on medals: Stripping Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi of the honours bestowed on him by Malta is not a priority and can wait, according to the Nationalist Party. Col Gaddafi, who can boast of being an honorary member of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika and an honorary companion of the National Order of Merit, is being investigated by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, including attacks on unarmed civilians during the rapidly unfolding events in Libya. He can only be divested of these honours, conferred upon him in 1976 and 2004, by a parliamentary resolution. Dr Portelli, who was also a member of the Maltese delegation to the Council or Europe, wrote to the President calling for an “honours removal committee” to be set up to decide whether Col Gaddafi should be allowed to keep his Maltese honours. Replying to Dr Portelli’s request, Attorney General Peter Grech said the President could only strip someone of their honours after a resolution by the House of Representatives. Read the complete article: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110312/local/stripping-gaddafi-of-maltese-honours-not-a-priority-pn Jean-Paul

Here is the official DND press release relating to this topic: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=00&id=3734 Jean-Paul

Just came across this interesting news article: Governor General David Johnson handed out three Stars of Military Valour and two Medals of Military Valour, the second and third highest decorations for bravery to members of the ultra-secret special forces. In addition, one Meritorious Service Cross, three Meritorious Service Medals and one Mention in Dispatches were also presented at a closed-door ceremony at Rideau Hall. A release from the vice regal's office said for security and operational reasons, the recipients' names and citations were not released. Read the complete article: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110311/special-forces-medals-110311/ Jean-Paul

Just found this article that might be of interest. Twenty Australian soldiers who were killed while fleeing Japanese prisoner of war camps during World War II will be posthumously awarded the Commendation for Gallantry. Parliamentary Secretary of Defence, Senator David Feeney, has accepted recommendations from the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal and is asking soldiers' relatives to collect the medals on their behalf. Read the complete article here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/06/3156333.htm?section=justin The article also refers to the Australian Defence Honours & Awards Tribunal Website which makes for some very interesting reading. Also contains a number of reports than can be download. The website link is: http://www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au/ Enjoy Jean-Paul

Just came across this interesting article on the number of Order of Canada awards as it relates to provinces. Order of Canada medals have been awarded disproportionately to Atlantic Canadians, while Westerners have been shortchanged on the prestigious civilian decoration, an Ottawa Citizen analysis has found. Residents of the four Atlantic provinces are nearly twice as likely to be recognized with an Order of Canada on a per-capita basis as those who live in the West, the data show. Here is a link to the full story: http://www.vancouversun.com/Western+Canada+especially+Alberta+shortchanged+Order+Canadas/4358973/story.html Jean-Paul

Norman Jackson, VC Norman Jackson, who has died aged 74, was one of 10 Lancaster aircrew awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War and the first RAF flight engineer to be so honoured: he won his decoration for an exploit described in the citation as "almost incredible". Here is the link to the complete article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/air-force-obituaries/8328601/Norman-Jackson-VC.html Jean-Paul

Hi Dick, Very interesting link. As far a military codes and cyphers are concerned, most people think of Enigma, not realizing that there is more to it than that. There is an Enigma machine on display at the Canadian Forces Communication Museum in Kingston, Ontario. There are also quite a few other more recent, but no longer used, cypher machines on display. I'm also an amateur (VE9BK) and mostly active using morse code. Jean-Paul

USAF Colonel receives presidential honors in Zambia - Zambian President Rupiah Banda awards Col. Keith Andrews the President's Medal of Gallantry May 25 for the rescue of two Zambian women in the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls a year earlier. Andrews was visiting the area as part of a U.S. Air Force Air War College regional study program tour. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda McCarty, U.S. Africa Command). Unable to see a date for the award. Here is the link to the high resolution image: http://www.osan.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/100525-F-1234M-002.jpg Jean-Paul

Very interesting topic indeed. Very few images of Zambian awards. Here is a link to my website which has additional information on these awards: http://www.jeanpaulleblanc.com/Zambia.htm Jean-Paul

Norman, Thank you for the information. Is there a chance that you could post an image of the ribbon poster. Jean-Paul

Just came across this news item from Australia: A new honour for members of the community who perform extraordinary acts or provide special services during a national emergency has been proposed by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. Ms Gillard has written to the Governor-General Quentin Bryce recommending the Queen establish a new medal for that purpose. She said the medal, to be called the “National Emergency Medal”, would recognise extraordinary or sustained services to others during a national emergency such as the recent floods. Ms Gillard said the award would also be back-dated to cover the Victorian bushfires in 2009. Read the complete article here: http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn2505.html Jean-Paul

Norman, Very interesting topic and collection. One of my main area of collecting is ribbons. I've now seen 3 different pictures of this medal and each one has a different ribbon. Do you know which ribbon is the correct one? Thanks Jean-Paul

I hope that is the case. From looking at his picture in the article, he sure seems to be in pretty good shape for his age. Jean-Paul

Came across this interesting news article regarding Frank Buckles. The story has a picture of Buckles wearing the French Legion d'Honneur medal. Here is the link to the article: http://www.fstribune.com/story/1698996..html Jean-Paul

Just found this interesting article which states that "People who performed heroic acts before 1975 will finally have their bravery recognised under a shake-up of Australia's honours system.The decision - announced quietly by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council last week - reverses a decades-long insistence by the federal government that only acts that took place after the Imperial honours awards scheme was scrapped in 1975 could be officially honoured. Read the complete article: http://www.smh.com.au/national/past-acts-of-bravery-to-be-recognised-20110122-1a0jx.html Jean-Paul