2xvetran

Beautiful postcards Kevin, especially from a time when these things were done for special occasions and circumstances only. Thanks for sharing. Scott.

Hi Paul, They are lapel type badges for the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, quite similar to the American Red Cross pins worn by our volunteers. They are not military issue, they are for civilian volunteers. Quite nicely made for items in Iraq at that point in time. Scott.

Thank you very much. It is still very much a work in progress as I am sure most of our collections are Scott.

Hi Lorenzo, This is the uniform I have had since Desert Storm. I just placed the badge with it as it had a really nice patina that matched the uniform. Thanks for asking. Scott.

Opposite side of monument. Thanks for looking and remembering that wars don't always end with a calendar date. Scott.

Historic marker about the monument and graves located here.

Historic marker about the mission.

I was travelling to the Detroit area yesterday and thought I would stop by the White Chapel Cemetary in Troy MI. There is a monument to the men of the 339th Infantry Regiment, the 310th Engineers, and the 337th Field Hospital also known in the U.S. as "The Polar Bears" or the American North Russia Expeditionary Force A.N.R.E.F. These men were drawn from the 85th "Custer" Division and were sent to Archangel Russia to combat the Bolsheviks and to urge the Russians to re-join the war against Germany. Most were from Michigan and Wisconsin and they trained at Ft.Custer near Battle Creek Michigan. They remain the only American force to directly engage Russians in war. The monument was placed in 1930 to memorialize those that did not return. There are 56 Polar Bears interred here whose remains were recovered after the cessation of hostilities. It was an effort led by 5 former Polar Bears and the Veterans of Foriegn Wars. So many times these men are forgotten that perhaps the dates of the wars end should be 1920... But that is an entirely different topic. Sorry for the low quality pics, as you can see the ground is completely covered and I had to shoot from a distance. I didn't want to walk through the graves. Scott.

Almost certainly Ed, that's what the 70th did from wars end until the late 1990s. Infantry instructors at Ft. Benning Ga, drill instructors at Ft Knox and Ft Benning, and some other side missions. Scott.

Yes, all except the Generals which have the snaps. Scott.

No, like I said I just wanted the silver armor badge as it was different than the usual gilt ones. The name badges are cool and the medals are all good, so I guess I am happy. :jumping: Scott.

I posted them in the Middle East and Arab States thread as well. Windu and Lorenzo responded and basically confirmed that they are just name badges. It would have been neat to have the name of a specific unit, but that's how it goes when you are totally unfamiliar with a language. Scott.

Thanks again, too bad the guy cheated me on the quarter, it wasn't in the package... Scott.

As I am finally moved and settled (mostly) into my new house, I will be working on new displays and a collection room. Right now things are a bit scattered. Scott.

Yes, it was the armor badge that I wanted. It was silver instead of being gilt, I put it next to the gilt one in my collection thread. The name badges and medals were just a bonus Scott.

Just a side note, I am very suprised that Finnish Marshal Mannerheim has not been mentioned. The thread really reads like Monty and Rommel fought the war alone... Scott.

Perhaps a small defense of the Army in the Pacific is warranted here. During the New Guinea operations there were the landings at Biak Island. Here the Japanese had to be rooted out of the caves in the same fashion as Iwo Jima. Record numbers of Japanese Prisoners were taken and two airfields were secured for the allies. We also had the first American-Japanese tank battle on Biak. We also need to remember that the Army went into New Guinea and the outlying islands alone. Marines on Guadalcanal, New Britain, and Okinawa to name a few, later received massive support from the Army. This is not to take away from the deeds of the U.S.M.C but Mac Arthur surely belongs at the top of this list, as does recognition for the Pacific Theater. Scott

Thanks Windu and Lorenzo Scott.

The other...

Hello Bob or Owain, or anyone fluent in Arabic... I have two Iraqi badges here that I would really like translated. Perhaps the name badge is just that, but I would like to be certain. Thanks to all in advance. Scott.

Here is my collection of Iraqi Officer collar gordets. It is believed that the darker version are for Republican Guard Officers and that the bright Red is for all other branches. I believe that once the officer becames a General and recives his palm gordets, that they are bright red. Scott.

A couple of spots on the inner webbing that were damaged from the sweat band corrosion, it still had the original sweatband. I removed it to prevent further damage but I still have it. Scott.

The 333rd DUI decal, the bottom reads " The Citizens In Arms". Scott

Master Sergeant Decal on the front, liner strap was still present as well.

I found this at the local antique store a couple of weeks ago. I was a member of the 70th Division from 1987-1993 and have a soft spot for some of their items. This liner intrigued me as the unit crest was not one of the WWII regiments assigned to the 70th but this was clearly a WWII liner. So, I did a bit of checking and found out the DUI is from the 333rd regt of the 84th Div, who for a short time, became assigned to the 70th after the war and they were considered an Airborne Infantry Regt, although it doesn't appear that they received any jump training. The inside of the liner has a piece of gauze style tape with the Master Sergeants name written on it. Near as I can tell the insignia is from the early 50s (the 333rd was assigned in 1951) Couldn't pass up the mystery for $20.00, so I bought it. Scott.