bmsm

This is a later strike of the Labor Order and it also has the incorrect ribbon.

Bob

A close up of the early strike.

Bob

These are Labor Orders which were awarded in three classes to individuals or groups for outstanding labor and intellectual accomplishments. Early strikes of this award have serial numbers on the reverse.

I have an earlier strike with the serial number on the reverse but it has an incorrect ribbon. The stripes should be blue on the red ribbon.

Bob

This is a Warrior to be Emulated Decoration for Ben Tre and a Ben Tre Progressive Youth Badge.

The decoration is 1-1/4 in. wide, 1-13/16 in. high, made of aluminum and has a pinback.

Translation above-Soldier Emulation.

The Progressive Youth badge is 3/4 in. wide,15/16 in. high, made of aluminum and has a pin back.

In 1968, during the Tet Offensive, the village of Ben Tre was destroyed by air and artillery strikes. A press

briefing was called by the army and the quote "We had to destroy Ben Tre to save it" was blurted out by a Major giving the conference.

More information on the battle can be found at this web site- http://www.nhe.net/BenTreVietnam/.

Bob

This badge is for the NVA Soldier to Protect the Nation, 1954. QDNDVN is Quan Doi Nhan Dan Viet Nam which means People's Army of Vietnam.

Below is Chien Si Ve Quoc Quan 1954 which means "Soldier to Protect the Nation1954"

The badge is 3/4 in. wide, 1-3/16 in. high, made of aluminum and has a pinback.

Bob

This is a Family Contribution (of soldiers) Badge. It is 1-1/8 in. diameter, made of brass and has a pinback.

Gia Dinh Quan Nhan means military families.

Bob

This is a Self Defense Militia (Dan Quan Tu Ve) soft cap badge. The DQTV is the lowest force of the PAVN, found at the district and village levels.

The badge is 1-11/16 in from point to point, made of plastic and has a pinback.

Bob

This is an South Vietnamese Popular Self Defense Force "beercan" badge. It is 1-1/8 in. diameter, made of aluminum and has a pinback.

Bob

Lorenzo,

I noticed in post # 4, you have two Kuwaiti items mixed in with your Iraqi display.

Bob

QUOTE (Paul R @ Mar 12 2009, 11:00 ) Hi Lorenzo,

Who is William?

I was not asking about Saddam's personal insignia. I was asking about shoulder boards from the time period between Desert Storm and OIF. How can I tell the difference between insignia made during the "Saddam" time period and the repros being sold by that Company?

Paul

look at the stars, they have a stitch line across them and the eagle has drawn out detail, The higher ranks use briter gold color yellow with the flag pattern in color, the flag design is across not down. I seen them in my friends collection in Baghdad, none of them were for sell. They had very beautiful detail, many Iraqi officers don't care where the rank insignia came from they just wear it, I have been seeing that a lot here latley very cheap looking: I met the Field Marshal of the 10th IA Divison his looked very nicely detailed.

Paul try to get you a set from Trident Militaria he can get you the closes to the real thing:

Lorenzo

Lorenzo,

They are rendered deputy officer shoulder boards.

Bob

Bob

How are you doing, I was wondering if you could give us some information on this type of Shoulder Boards. I believe that they are for a Team leader or Section Sergeant I am not sure.

Thank you

Lorenzo

This is a Liberation Army in South Vietnam, 1960-Giai Phong Quan Mien Nam Viet Nam, 1960.

This badge is 1-9/16 in. wide, 7/8 in. high, made of brass and is pinback.

Bob

This is an Original Communist Youth Group Badge. It is issued to personnel who have been accepted into the Communist Youth Group. The badge is made of aluminum, 7/8 in. wide, 1-1/16 in. high and pinback.

The inscription reads "Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Group".

Bob

On the top is Gia Dinh Battalion 1968. On the planchet is 'Determined to Fight, Determined to Win, American Aggression". This badge is made of very thin alumium and is 1-1/2 in. wide from point to point and 2 in. high. Pinback.

Bob

Nice find!! You don't see many documents to the Soviets.

Bob

Doc to soviet colonel

Mervyn,

I don't know why the patch is so huge and they seem to make up what they want for patches. The Structure Protection Force is also known as the Facility Protection Service and is in charge of protecting government buildings, hospitals, banks, power stations, etc. It is a Paramilitary Force under the control of the Ministry of Interior.

Bob

Heroic Mothers Decoration. This decoration was issued to honor Vietnamese mothers who had sacrificed sons to the war effort. It was instituted in 1994 as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's 33rd official medal. It was only issued in one class.

It is made of aluminum, 1-3/8 in. from point to point and is 2-1/4 in. high.

Bob

When posting the People's Armed Forces Hero Decoration above, I posted the wrong obverse. This is the correct obverse and the size should only be 1-7/16 in from point to point and 2-1/4 in. high.

Bob

People's Armed Forces Hero Decoration, 1-11/16 in. from point to point, 2-1/4 in high and made of aluminum.

It is awarded to PAVN members for heroism and is the second highest award . It could also be awarded to units.

Above-heroes Below-Peoples Armed Forces

Bob

A Soldier of Liberation Order, Second Class in plastic presentation case.

Bob

After reading ORDERS AND DECORATIONS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM; AN UPDATE by Edward John Emering, he made a correction to his initial work and the Soldier of Liberation Order is issued in three classes determined by the number of blue stripes on the red ribbon.

Bob

NLF Soldier of Liberation Order. It is only issued in one class with a red ribbon and three blue stripes.

Inscription below flag staff - CHIEN SI GIAI PHONG (Soldier of Liberation).

Bob

This is a post 2003, New Iraqi Army, 6th Division, 3rd.Bde. Al Mothana Brigade Glazed Chest Badge.

It is 1-3/4 in. diameter, glazed and has a spring pin fastener on the reverse.

Bob

This is a 2009, Iraqi Border Guard Arm Patch. It is 3-1/2 in. wide, 3-9/16 in. high and velcro backed.

Translation below: Iraqi Borders Guards

Bob

Lorenzo,

Man, you are right there in Iraq and should be finding all those goodies instead of me finding them for you. With all your dealer contacts you should have choice pickings of items (probably at a lot less cost) and be getting all the translations too.

Bob

I am going to have to find me the other type for my collection keep me in mind if you find another.

Thank you

Lorenzo

Lorenzo,

I have two colors. The badges are 15/16 in wide and 1-1/8 in. high made of brass and glazed.

Translation below: Iraqi Borders

Did you look at the article about Iran's Toofan Attack Helicopter I posted in the Lounge?

Bob

Did you only get the one color?

Bob

Bob

I just picked this Border Guard Insignia up a few weeks ago.

Lorenzo

This is a 2010, Iraqi Border Guards Gift Plate with stand, made of plastic with gilt border and is 5-3/4 in. diameter.

Translation below: Iraqi Borders

Bob