Paul R

Actually, not previously knowing the significance of those awards(the fourragere), my question was not answered.... until now. Thanks Michael and Veteran, for your detailed answers. Veteran,(to clarify) since you were with your unit when it was awarded the double fourragere, you retained the right to keep it forever... right? Do you have some images of your uniform with this award? I do remember hearing when I was in the Marines that our 5th and 6th Marine Regiments were awared the fourrag?re for having earned the Croix de Guerre with palm leaf three times during World War I. It is still worn today by members of the Marine Corps 2nd Battalion 5th Reg.

I know that I would want to see closer images...

Those are some amazing helmets! The research on that name is amazing. Thanks for the information on Kurk!

You are right... this is the best Iron Cross grouping I have ever seen. What is in that ball of lint, inside the box? Is this the round that wounded him?

What was their battle record? Did they do well against the enemy? Were the unit NCOs and Officers "troublemakers" as well?

Thanks for sharing this interesting bar. Although, the US medal is not a military one. It is a commemorative type for the 150th Anniversary of the US(Although I thought that the official accepted year of the establishment of the US was 1776).

Does anyone else have any SS/Heer related Gorgets?

That thought crossed my mind as well. Maybe those men you were able to research were KIA?

Yes, but this one is a conscript who's entire service time(outside of training) was in Afghanistan. I had forgotten about the grouping for Private Nikolai Aleksandrovich Popovskii though... That is another great one. Do groupings with Afghan service go for a higher premium these days?

This is the first soley Afghan grouping I have ever seen. Another amazing set Ed! I am envious of this one... :cheers:

That is a wonderful Afghan vet group! It is one of the best I have seen.

I love the blue KM collar tresse!

Definitely an civilian academic award. Maybe JrROTC...

I think that he is more of an Admin Official than a "Specialist for War Duration"(Sonderfuhrer) member. I know that the Heer Sonderfuhrer changed insignia configuration more than once, but I think that they ALWAYS had the blue/gray collars instead of the dark green. Larry would be most able to clear this up. Perhaps he was an interpreter?

Perfect!! You actually remember seeing his decorations? Were they all mounted together(US and German medals)? I am surprised that he served in Europe(with a Commission no less) during the actual hostilities. Did the Balloon Observers have badges?

That is the first evidence I have seen of Beamte wearing foreign legion insignia! Very nice image!

I am surprised to see that he does not have an Order of Lenin...

Congratulations on your new bar. How many of the medals in question were awarded?

Thanks Daniel, That second link was great! Thank you! Those medals do look strange grouped together! I liked the passages about his work as an interpreter at the POW camps!

Hey Ed. I was actually asking for the opposite... German WW1 vets that later joined the American(or even British) ranks for WW2. :cheers:

Really? Please tell!

Is there any evidence that suggests American WW1 Veterans(ethnic Germans?) who returned to fight as Germans in WW2? Has any such grouping surfaced? Paul

Are there any groupings or evidence that suggests any German WW1 Vets that fought as Americans in WW2? If there is any evidence of this(I would be surprised if there were not), lets see it here!

I like that last photo a lot!

What are they made from? Silk?