2xvetran

Here is my Para wearing an Iraqi produced copy of the French "lizard" pattern camo. He has the proper wings and SSI for an Army Para. Scott.

This is my display of an Iraqi Republic era Thunder Trooper. He is wearing an Iraqi produced ultra lightweight woodland pattern camo uniform. He has the green beret and crossed lightning bolt badge for Thunders, the SSI, and the wings and breast badge. Scott.

The dragon and falcon logo are for Thunder Troops. There isn't much info on these formations, but they were said to be commando type units similar to U.S. Army Rangers or Royal marine Commando's. Here are some of my Thunders insignia, all from Iraq. Scott

Beautiful set Lorenzo, I agree that the Air Force items have a lot more class than the average Iraqi items. A couple of red flags on this set though. One obviously was the E-bay price $$$$. The next is that while the hat is from the U.K. the uniform is clearly Iraqi made (just look at the trouser markings). That being said, it was listed as a bring back from Desert Storm, but we clearly have post 1991 horizontal stars on the jacket buttons, kind of blows the sellers story... We need to remember that there were many sanctions after 1990 and the hat clearly pre dates these but the uniform does not. Still a beautiful set and an officer would have been lucky to have had such a nice hat to use after the sanctions. I also noticed a set of ribbons that the same seller had, I am guessing that he removed them from the uniform to sell them separately like the hat, it was a nine ribbon bar that would have probably tied in with a senior officer like this uniform, just my guess. Still I like the looks of this uniform. Scott.

Another view. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_08_2010/post-4139-128089561725.jpg.jpg]http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_08_2010/post-4139-128089568284.jpg.jpg]

Here is a Republican Guard NCO. The uniform is a fairly course wool and includes the NCO sleeve rank, the RG triangle insignia, the "hard missions" badge and flag pin. This is from the 2003 war. Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_08_2010/post-4139-128089534534.jpg.jpg]http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_08_2010/post-4139-12808954744.jpg.jpg]

I just sold a nice 4th ID helmet from WWI on E-Pay about a month ago... I had 5th ID on my mind as I did 2 years with them in the 1980s. "RED DEVILS!" Scott.

Hi Chris, are you sure that this isn't the 4th Division? The 5th is the red diamond, and this looks like the ivy leaves of the 4th. Scott. I forgot to add, beautiful displays!!!

I should have been more clear. I wasn't suggesting that I would give him the medal I initially wrote about. I was saying that perhaps he may disregard the reg about being alive, and submit the paperwork to the French so that his father can get recognized posthumously. I understand regulations, but as Hugh stated most are made by beaurocrats looking to save a buck. Here in the states, there has been legislation proposed in congress for several years to issue a Cold War Service Medal. It never passes the Senate as the cost of issuing these to so many living veterans is prohibitive. When a million or two die off then they will pass the measure and have a grand celebration of those who served during this time in history. This has happened with our WWI/WWII veterans regarding many awards and specifically the LoH from the French. So, his dad clearly met the criteria and did not live long enough to receive his award, is he any less entitled? Only from the letter of the law. The other reason to do this is educational, here in the states we have a couple of generations who think Memorial Day is the first day of summer. What a way to spark interest in the past, by having a child become interested in the history of a relatives awards. I am curious to know if the Canadians who served in France rate the LoH? Canada seems to have a much wider appreciation of their military heritage than the U.S. Let me know and thanks for your honest opinion. Scott.

Thank you for the opinions. I guess the only way for a win-win would be to accept it and try to locate the vet or his family, if I fail then I return the medal and documents to the Consulate... Now, let me compound this further. I have a good friend whose father was a Normandy veteran of the 35th Division. My friend had researched and assembled all of his fathers awards before his father passed away a couple of years ago. He now knows that his father would have been able to receive the LoH from France but never did. The regulation states that the veteran should be alive, but given that I have received the award confirmation on an unknown veteran, would my friend be wrong in attempting to obtain his fathers award and thus having his fathers name recorded by the French Government as a fitting tribute to his fathers service? He is a well known collector and author and I don't believe he would want to do anything wrong, but his father was entitled to this award and it becomes part of the family legacy. What do you all think? Scott.

Today I received two letters from the French Government concerning the award of the Legion D'Honneur to an American WWII veteran. The problem is I have absolutely no idea who the veteran is. About a year ago I did an internship at a local veterans affairs office. Part of my duties were to order replacement medals for those veterans wishing to obtain them. In the U.S. there is a free replacement of military awards one time. Some veterans I noticed were eligible for the LOH so I submitted their names and discharge papers to the French Consulate for consideration. I do not recognize the name on this award, I called the veterans office today and they do not have the name in their records either, and I have no idea why it came to my house... So I was given three options on how to receive the award, one of which included shipment by FEDEX. My initial thought was to just disregard this as something very weird, but now I think that this would be a great thing to research and try to locate the veteran or his family. The veterans name is a fairly common one, so locating him may be difficult, but it could be interesting as well. What do you all think, the award has already been recorded in France so it's not like I can just refuse it and all will be done. But there is the chance that somewhere out there this guy or his family will be looking for his LOH. I am not sure that the consulate really cares all that much as they seem to be trying to get as many of these out to the WWII guys as possible before they die. I would surely like to hear all thoughts on this moral dilemma. Should I take the FEDEX option? Scott.

They are very high quality, possibly German made shoulder slides. The flag pin has a nicer pinback and the uniform is of a better quality. Scott.

Reverse and beret view. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128036401013.jpg.jpg]http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128036406942.jpg.jpg]

One of my favorite displays, this is my RG officer from the 1990-91 Gulf War. He is complete with proper insignia and equipment from that war. The uniform and beret were sent home by me in 1991. Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-12803638024.jpg.jpg] http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128036387736.jpg.jpg]

A nice pic of an Iraqi SP gun on the road to Baghdad in 2003. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128036223527.jpg.jpg]

Hi Paul, for us letter mail was free but packages had to be paid for. The cost of shipping so many items was tough for me as I could only draw $300.00 per month in 2003 from the finance people. Any extra $$$ had to be mailed in the form of cash from my wife, generally it worked out well but mailing large sums of cash is never without risks... Scott.

Great display boxes and medal chart Bob. I have never seen boxes like these. Scott.

These need some repairs Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128021345194.jpg.jpg]

Another sign, with directions to a Republican Guard area. Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128021333017.jpg.jpg]

Another wall marking. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128021315252.jpg.jpg]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128021297115.jpg.jpg]

Just a couple of pics of damaged Iraqi helos. Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128021286135.jpg.jpg]

You didn't see the big gap in the wall Bob. I tried to send it all but the postage was killing me! Scott.

Another vehicle in the convoy out. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-12801810083.jpg.jpg]

These are a couple of pictures I took of the Spanish Army leaving Iraq after the Madrid train bombings. As soldiers we must obey the orders of those appointed and elected officials above us, but I wonder how those Spanish soldiers felt when they had to evacuate because of a terror attack? . Scott. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-128018093013.jpg.jpg]