bmsm

This is a picture I took in Mosul at the former Airbase. As far as I know it is for training and depicts a Republican Guard soldier as well as the RG red triangle insignia. Scott.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128017596777.jpg.jpg]

Scott,

It's too bad you couldn't have shipped that back!! That would have been a real conversation piece.

Bob

ARVN items are thing that we do not see everyday. That is one high quality unit banner. Can you please make a closeup of the ARVN Marine Corps emblem?

Paul,

Here is an obverse and reverse of the emblem.

Bob

Bob - my favourite - the 'sneaky' Customs eye !

Mervyn,

If you like the "sneaky" Customs eye, maybe you will like this badge. It is an Iraqi Intelligence Beret badge which was worn from 1991-2003. The Iraqi Intelligence symbol was the world map inside the eye shape. I always wonder how the Iraqi's managed to wear some of the badges they produced as the reverse is so large and heavy to try and attach to a beret and keep it in place. I have shown the reverse of the badge as an example.

Bob

Rod,

A beautiful display. I envy you having a large enough place to display all your items for others to come and see.

Bob

This is a 2009, Borders Guards Forces Command, Custom Police arm patch and arc. The arm patch and arc is machine made, 3.75 in. wide and 4.5 in. high. The arc is 3.75 in long and 1.125 in. wide.

The translation on the top of the patch is:

Borders Guards Forces Command

Customs Police

Bob

This is a embroidered banner for the South Vietnamese Marines and measures 39 in. x 46 in. It is made out of a dark green heavy satin material with embroidered yellow lettering which roughly translates "Republic of Vietnam Marines" with unit name translating to "Ferocious Tsunami, Master of the Sea". It also has a red cloth fringe and edge ties.

Bob

Those are some really nice quality embroideries.

The top set of metallic wings look like US Marine Corps jump wings, to me.

Paul,

Even though similar in design, the US Marine Corp jump wings have a wider space between the parachute and wings at the top and the fletching of the outside row of feathers goes from the wingtip to the parachute risers. The gilt color is more accurate on the US Wings.

On the Iraqi made paratrooper wings the outside row of fletching only has five feathers on each side and doesn't go all the way to the parachute risers.

Bob

The Parachutists corps pins here as shown

The top metal paratrooper wing is a chest wing and is found in gilt and silver.

The middle metal paratrooper wing is worn on the beret and is also found in gilt and silver.

The bottom metal wing is a Special Forces beret badge.

Bob

here is a photo showing IRAQI paratroopers wearing the Polish WZ63 / East German helmet

they also wore French F1 para helmets

Is this helmet from your collection and if so, how many different helmets do you have? The two you posted are in very good shape and would be nice looking on a mannequin with a camouflage paratrooper uniform.

Bob

Scott,

Nice picture and I'm glad to see you figured out how to post pictures. You have a lot of experience and knowledge to share here on GMIC.

Bob

This is an 2009, Iraqi Border Guards arm patch . It is 4.625 in. high, 3.625 in. wide and is machine made.

Above: Ministry of Interior

Below: Iraqi Border Guards

Bob

THis is an 2009, Ministry of Interior, Ministry's Security and Safety arm patch. It is 3.625 in. diameter, machine made and velcro backed.

Below: Ministry's Security and Safety.

Bob

This is a set of 2009, Republic Presidential Special Guards arm patches. They are 4.625 in. high, 3.875 in. wide at the arc and are machine sewn.

Above on arc: Republic Presidential

Below: Special Guards

THis is for two different sets of 2009, Ministry of Interior, Al Adnani Palace Protection Force arm patches. One set is yellow on brown and the other is white on deep blue. Both sets are 4.25 in. high and 3.00 in. wide .

The white on deep blue are machine made and no velcro on reverse while the yellow on brown are machine made and have velcro on the reverse.

Above: Ministry's Security

Below: Force of

Al Adnani Palace Protection.

Al Adnani Palace is now in the Green Zone and the Palace was built in Saddam's era in the 1990's but not used by Saddam.

Bob

This is an award for a Military School in Tan An and signed by a Lieutenant Colonel in the 7th. Division. A very colorful award, 12.625 in. wide, 10.375 in. high and is a little torn on some of the edges.

Bob

This is a 1964 Document for a Corporal from the 2nd Division going to an NCO School to become a Sergeant. This is all the information I have on this item so am not sure if this is a Graduation Award or not. The document is 10.68 in. wide and 8.5 in. high. Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

This is an South Vietnamese award for a Corporal in III Corp. who went to an NCO School and signed by a 1st. Lieutenant, 2nd Division, ARVN in 1957. It is 11.625 in. wide and 8.81 in. wide. The paper is a brownish color not as white as the picture.

Bob

This might be getting a little far out of line but I saw this in my storage box and it brought back memories of the cold war when billions of dollars, ruples, etc. were spent on weapons and defense against weapons.

This is a 1951, 5 Leva Note from Bulgaria. What caught my eye was the hammer and sickle on the reverse side.

Bob

I held one of the notes up to a light so you can see the security thread and watermark.

Bob

Here are Two South Vietnamese 500 Dong Notes one from 1966 (the stern looking fellow) and 1972 (tiger). Both notes have a watermark and a security thread in them. The United States didn't start using the security thread and watermark until 1990.

Bob

Would you folks consider this to be a real badge or a fake?

Thank You

Since this badge was approved by the Chief of Staff of the Royal Laos Army, I believe it to be a authorized badge to be worn on the Laotian uniform. The United States has some regulations about wearing Foreign Awards on the uniform so don't know if it would be authorized to be worn by U.S. personnel.

Bob

This is a Japanese 5 Sen Note 1944 ND (no date) Issue obverse and reverse. This is a small note 4 in. long and 1.875 in. wide. It makes me think of Monopoly money.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the welcome.

I actually know quite a bit about world police insignias with 36 years of collecting behind me. Used to know a lot about a lot ,but forgotten a fair bit of it . I'll get back into the swing of things shortly.

I have been on your threads and have learned a bit, it's the newer stuff that I am trying to catch up on and your Iraqi patch photos are very helpful.

I left a question on one of your threads about an old badge you had illustrated, so it is probably better to talk about iraq subjects on your threads.

Regards,

Les

Les,

Sorry, I must have missed your question on the badge as I try to get back on any questions asked. I didn't visit the forum everyday and I have been posting on two different forums.

Bob

Les,

Welcome to the Forum. I collect Iraqi Militaria and have been posting patches and translations to the patches. There is a lot to see and learn here.

Bob

Hmmmmmmmm....... I wonder where they copied the eagle from..... :-)

Chris,

Did you notice the Al Basrah EOD patch in post #103 in that it looks somewhat like the South Vietnamese Marine patch with the Eagle and Globe?

Bob