TacHel

Ed my friend... You have a "quasi morbid" fascination for these old communist organizations that are hanging on by their fingernails and slowly sinking into oblivion ... Even the Russians are now starting to treat them for what they are... Anachronisms! Like I mentioned before (in another forum), to me, this is akin the Neo-Nazi party producing and bestowing awards bearing swastikas in modern day Germany. Es macht keinen Sinn!

Even the Russian web site lists it in the "MISC" section... Says it all really. Like Roman said, a nice Xmas tree ornament... :rolleyes:

Medal of merit of the Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans. 100% civilian "unofficial" (non governmental) award.

Tim, when I first started collecting French ODMs I almost gave up, like you mention it, it's quite the minefield at first. Check this web site, although in French, it is quite complete, actually, it is most probably the best web site on the subject anywhere. FRANCE PHAL?RISTIQUE The webmaster is Marc Champenois, he really knows his stuff and will gladly answer any question you might have. Cheers!

Tim, check page 2 of this this link M?daille des bless?s

Every single Russian Federation presidential or ministerial decree I've read, and I'm talking about well over 300 here, mention "Fatherland". I double and triple checked myself at first, me being so used to the term "Mother Russian".

Super photographs!! Thanks for sharing! Awesome eye candy! :jumping:

A very commendable start! You'll find this area of great historical interest (I did anyway). The variety of available awards is quite extensive, unfortunately, it also quite rapidly becomes quite expensive.

You forgot to mention the time he was snorkeling in the Med and single handedly sank a U Boat by taking a bite out of it... :speechless:

Wow! How rare! Thanks for sharing!

His Majesty was the "Commander in Chief" of the armed forces. And let us not forget the old adage... "It's good to be King". Mr Churchill's honorary titles of air commodore and colonel in chief might have been recognized for awards, I know modern day honorary colonels count their time for long service awards, but... I stress the term "OPERATIONAL SERVICE" which is mentioned in the prerequisites for ALL WW2 stars. Even modern awards' prerequisites are still written this way explicitely to prevent "visitors" to the operational areas from claiming combat theater awards.

Well, that's just it... He didn't. He was a politician, and even though he was a veteran, he was not a member of the armed forces. The award prerequisites are quite simple and plain to understand: "for OPERATIONAL service". Unless the King waived the prerequisites for him? Did this actually happen?

What the H...? Gents... What is Winston doing with WW2 stars among his other gongs? In NO WAY do I want to seem like I wish to diminish his contribution to final victory, but... I've seen so many WW2 vets from various Commonwealth countries told outright they did not qualify for the 1939-45 Star even after receiving other Stars that it bothers me a bit to see them here... The WW2 Victory Medal I understand, heck, I would've minted a solid gold version for him!! The Defense Medal, iffy at best... The Stars... Sorry, not in my humble opinion. I don't care how much time he actually spent in theater as the guest of Ike or Alexander or Monty, it simply doesn`t seem right to me. But that's only MY opinion. I don't mean to offend people with opinions that differ from mine, I would however appreciate an explanation as to just how this came about...

We brought back the wound stripe a looong time ago. But it has now been replaced by the "Sacrifice Medal". It is on hold for a bit due to the fact it is only awarded retroactively to October 2001, there's a fight to go back further. There's also a fight to change the prerequisites a bit.

I've been in the Canadian Forces for 28+ years and only met 2 chief warrant officers wearing this medal, and this was in the early 80s. Both were anglophones.

The badge seen here being worn on the right breast (as per regs) of this colonel of airborne troops.

Breast Badge "Participant in Combat Operations" for troops of the Defense Ministry. Beautiful heavy construction. Awarded for participation in combat ops akin the US combat infantry badge or the French "Croix du Combattant".

The top one (black) is for Service in the Caucasus. It's the 1st class model, the 2nd class cross being outlined in silver in lieu of gold. The red one is a non official award no longer worn. There were a great many non official and unit awards made, they went the way of the Dodo. Check this thread, lots of info on this cross. Cheers!

Once again, great info Gaffken! When I first found this medal and the decree governing its award, I simply couldn't understand how a member of the penal system could get mixed up in anti terrorism operations until you explained the transfer of the special intervention teams to this very ministry. Great info that sheds light on this award! Keep this kind of info coming, it is very appreciated!

# 0401 WOW!!! Lock it up in a safe place!

Young captain of Interior Troops decorated with the Medal of Suvorov. He is also wearing the Gold Star of a Hero of Russia and the commemorative medal for 200 years of the Interior Ministry.

Instituted on 2 March 1992 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Conferred to soldiers of the ground forces, frontier forces, the forces of the ministry of the interior, and members of civil defence, for acts of valour in defence of the Federation, further for outstanding service and maintaining military preparedness.

That's great info! I was having a problem explaining that sniper's badge!

Can you confirm the number on the back of yours Gaffken? Is it 040 ??? :o

Yes, 4th Republic is correct.