Ed_Haynes

Just when you think that items and research have betrayed you, you get surprised. That is one thing I like -- I think -- about this "hobby".

Solo Order of the Red Banner #264731.

Rick: Upgrade? You (YOU) could actually READ the Mondovor site rather than dealing with idiotic online translations!

Especially (and in English) see: http://www.soviet-screwbacks.com/ where they have special section on Red Star duplicate awards

Have you checked Mondovor and http://www.soviet-screwbacks.com/ ??

Hey, Brian,

Are you catching 'another disease'? I know the feeling!

It is a later, duplicate award, so . . . ????

Fire up online transator and go to http://www.mondvor.narod.ru/MPartiz.html.

And, yes, it looks like a VERY naughty medal. Some of the fakes are pretty good, but this is not one of those.

You might also want to check the Mondovor site (and get ready for humor in the online translations!).

Defence Medal should come ahead of the War Medal. But this is a pretty common period error.

Nice old picture with Zia.

A nice KAR group (though mounted out of order).

whoa- amputated his own leg?

Yeah, he came out of a helicopter in Bangadesh in 1971, stepped on a landmine, boom, did his surgery, tied it off with his belt, found a stick and kept going. And then, his hardest job, to persuade the bosses to keep him in uniform after his prostesis had been fitted. (All he got was a Wound Medal!) Has become a major activist for "handicapped" rights after his retirement.

Very nice and VERY interesting. Looks to be in the tradition of the regional "Warlord" medals known from all over China. Which Warlord was active in Inner Mongolia in the 1930s? That is probably him in the obverse center. Need to check. And what does the legend say?

A very nice find!!

Here is the image.

I find most of the vocal snarling criticism of Beharry's [bihari's] VC to be petty, at best. Well done, Johnson!!

Are they engraved on the back or rim at all? What are they struck from? Bronze?

What sort of pension extras does one receive for this award?

Just looked at the MOD site. 14/21 posthumous awards is quite something. That Captain Sarian leading the bayonet charge against the Katagans is really a hair-raising story! Bayonets, grenades, SMGs, machetes, spears, kukris-yee Gods, it must've looked a bit like Actium!

Bronze, but not claimed to be anyone's captured anythings.

The three I have seen are named on the rim. Two nicely, one poorly (the most recent - no surprise).

Pensions? Very complex, very controversial. I know a good book that covers those.

Regarding Salaria, see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33577 - opinions may differ on his award. Interesting in that, to date, his has been the only "UN service" PVC.

Read Ian Cardozo, Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle ([New Delhi]: Roli Books, [2003]; ISBN 81-7436-262-2). While a popular book, still very moving and very valuable. (And written by a very modest hero in his own right; anyone who amputates his own injured leg with his own kukri . . . . And a GREAT person.)

When it comes to quirky and nasty mountings, this one contends for the prize. At least he got ONE ribbon right. Listed in the order he wears them, however incorrect.

1- Raksha Medal, 1965 - 229052 CPL. MURAD, K.L., I.A.F.

2- Samanya Seva Medal - Nagaland - 229052 JWO.1 K.L. MURAD, I.A.F.

3- Sainya Seva Medal - Bengal-Assam - 229052 CPL. MURAD K.L. I.A.F.

4- 9 Year Service Medal - 229052 CPL. MURAD K.L. I.A.F.

There is also (not mounted - lucky medal?)

5- Sangram Medal, 1971 - 229052 CPL. MURAD KL I.A.F.

http://sammler.ru/index.php?act=Gallery&cat=169

Interesting. And even more interesting in that the online translator doesn't make a hash of it (as it does with most entries on that website).

Just got my first two returns from Alexei. They came in well under a week. While I think these are quite (QUITE) interesting results, they come without translations, so I am still looking for someone to do translations.

The normal Researcher has been traveling and is off to get involved, again, in an auction in Helsinki. Make of that what you will.

. . . in the thirties there was a decree forbidding carrying of signs similar to the Soviet awards. Such signs were subject to withdrawal.

That is VERY interesting. Do you have more details and evidence??

Signed on 18 April 1946 by the commander of Military Unit 9999 of the People's Commissariat of Defense, Lieutenant-General Rubin.

The only wartime general Rubin is this guy:

- http://www.generals.dk/general/Rubin/Iosif...viet_Union.html

Interesting. I have seen this Unit 9999" before. Maybe it was just some section of the Soviet bureaucracy that dealt with awards to odd and exotic allies?

Given the chaos that is Chinese Republican ribbons and awards, I think you'd need to find his group and see what ribbon it has (and hope it hasn't been replaced). While I have been in Chetwode Hall at the Indian Military Academy, I have no clue where his medals reside.

Nice catch. I wish, I wish. A year ago . . . but, now . . .

It is a measure of the confusion of the times, Raoul Salan received it AND commanded a Division fighting the Germans in 44-45.

Fascinating. I can't imagine he got both this thing and the Order of Liberation?!

Must be a story there . . . .

Are we speaking, as is the title of this thread "Soviet awards to Americans [uS]" or have we confused it by flipping things and making it into "American [uS] awards to Soviets"? These are two very different issues and I fear things have gotten very badly muddled-up.

And we do need to remember that the 20th-century American homophobic revulsion over how male (or, for that matter, female) friendship (and no more than that) is displayed is not universal.

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks.