Ed_Haynes

A nice little documented group to Galsan Altangerel (a woman). I'm posting the group to her husband (Byamba Gezegt) over at http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=14479.

If real, rare. This is covered in the correct thread.

I shall merge the three fragmented threads.

Before posting, it is always good to look for previous discussion. It is probably here already.

What would possibly make anyone think that any "PLM" on eBay was anything other that sewage?

Ed Maier has posted his draft letter over at the OMSA website and coupled his letter, appropriately, with a visit to his member of congress' local office.

See: http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1356

FYI and action.

Thanks, Leigh. Welcome!

And some of the KKK and other white supremicist hate-sites will probably have it too. You'll probably find some Nazi stuff there too.

The spirit of the law is obvious. I don't understand why there are no exceptions. If I am re-enacting at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome as a WWI pilot, will I be arrested for the rack on my tunic? Being in my thirties, I find it hard to believe that I am stealing the valor of somebody who fought in a war that ended in 1918. Idiocy...pure idiocy.

There is no provision to protect either phalerists nor reenactors. The older provisions protecting legitimate dramatic presentations presumably continue, though that too is vague in the new idiocy. It may be that the "Stolen Valor" law cannot be enforced, but -- all joking and posturing aside -- no serious test case seems advisable until things clarify.

I hope the OMSA is doing something, but I had hoped they were doing something before the legislation passed. So far as I know, no one from the OMSA testified before the committees that considered this legislation and there was no OMSA "door-knock" effort in DC.

Thanks, mates! Fascinating.

Will work at moving this where it belongs, into the preexisting thread. See http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5087 in the interim.

Some major forum housekeeping is needed, combining these orphan threads where they belong. When I find time . . . !

This is looking more and more interesting, eh? An "almost-a-Lenin" group? I await full research returns.

In the interim, can some kind soul help me with translations of what Dave has shared here. While I try, the handwriting here is worse than most (some?).

I hold out hope for the one "real" Red Star . . . .

(I guess this can almost be moved over to "researched"?)

If he has the Africa Star, there would have been at least a War Medal to go with it, and the MiD leaf would be worn on that one.

without bringing politics into this....

Is there a particular "side" pushing for this law?

Yes, the pressure is from self-appointed hyper patriots addicted to kinky hero worship who wish to wrap their pitiful selves in the protective symbolic enbrace of "veterans" and defend them from the imagined legions of veteran wanna-be Walter Mittys who are "out there" all wanting to dress up and pretend they got Army Good Conduct Medals. All quite clinically delusional, but they'e there, and loud, and influential. And, in this stage in the lifetime of the USA, you can wrap anything up in phoney patriotism and the Congress will gobble it down, no matter how fecal, especially in an election year when no one on the Hill thinks about anything except strutting about for votes. And, here as elsewhere, no one dares speak up about the Emperor's sartorial choices.

See: http://www.homeofheroes.com/

The degree to which serious phaleristics in the US has been misserved and rendered invisible just makes this all the easier . . . . We are just seen as something lodged between the American Legion and a flock of gun-nuts and no one wants to listen. This has gotta be fixed!! (Close that barn door after the horse is gone?)

Ed, you should be able to find out more when the research comes back on it. As for this, I did this research myself as I was curious about the group and this is what one does for friends.

Dave

Fascinating! Thanks, Dave. I have requested full research, so . . . ???

Hi, Dear Doc

Nice collection. But your uniform is not Lieutenant, it is Major. The field officer of KPA has two lines on their shoulder boards or collar tabs, and the company officer just have only one.

Tang Si

Nice!

And in Mongolia as well (to let you get your minds out of Europe ).

See: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6241

Hi Ed - I if my US Civics reminds me its now a matter of the courts as once the president signs it - its law untill the legal branch can hammer it out. But - looking at it - its almost a no-brianer for even a half-baked (from studying too much) law student.

As for getting a LoM - I belive that you still can? As the law only specifically mentions the DSC, SS, Navy Cross, PH, AF Cross, and??? (I am forgetting) - but the Bronze Star was not on the list and neither is the Legion of Merit. (or do they fall under the medals awarded by Congress???)

No one really knows. The law can be read to cover everything. So far, the regulations backing it up haven't been drafted and there is some hope that the OMSA can intervene at this stage (though they were pretty useless on the Hill). The hormone-overdosed self-nominated patriots who rammed this thing through an unresisting election-year Congress made it so sloppy that no one really knows, no one wants to be a test case. Pervasive fear beats carefully crafted legislation any day.

And, with Canada echoing the same sort of insanity (http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=13957) and Australia restricting export for some time, there could be dark days on the horizon.

How does this all effect selling on Forums?

Takes anyone in the US out of the game. Potentially. Shipping these things within the US is illegal.

No one has a clue how the law will be enforced, but I'm not sure anyone wants to be a test case.

See http://www.omsa.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36 for more aspects, especially http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1332.

And, additionally, FJP sells (used to sell?) other nice things too, though US awards were the core.

All joking aside, and in an effort to get us back on topic, I don't think FJP will mind me quoting their e-mail:

"Dear FJP Auctions Client:

"With disappointment and deep regret, we announce the cancellation of our live-mail sale scheduled for Thursday evening, February 22, 2007, at the Show of Shows in Louisville, Kentucky. Recent passage of the Stolen Valor Act makes it clearly illegal to solicit for sale, to sell, or to ship US decorations and campaign medals. The mailing of the catalog constitutes solicitation such that FJP and each client consigning a US federal medal becomes liable for prosecution. Therefore, in order to protect our clients, and upon advice of counsel, we have decided to cancel the sale. Go to the OMSA web site forum (www.OMSA.org) for a good presentation of the law and its impact on collectors.

"As the legislation worked its way through Congress, collectors were assured that the intent was not to adversely effect collector, museum, and historian activity, and that the offending language would be changed in conference. However, in the final analysis, that did not happen. As of this date, we are aware that US decorations and medals are being sold at auction elsewhere, including e-Bay, but we have not yet verified enforcement activity.

"We expect to conduct our next sale in May as scheduled and hope to be able to include US Federal decorations and campaign medals. As a worst case, we will offer non-Federal US medals and militaria, as well as orders,

decorations, and medals of the world.

"FJP will offer for sale many of the lots scheduled to be sold at the SOS sale by private treaty. The text of the revised catalog will be posted on our website by Monday, February 5, 2007.

"We call your attention to FJP?s e-Bay auctions conducted weekly at seller name FJPauctions. We expect to increase the number of lots offered. Many items from John Sylvester?s Indochina Collection, including a series of rare French crests will only be offered through e-Bay.

"If you have questions about the Stolen Valor Act or FJP?s action in this matter, please call Jeff at ___ or Barry at ___. [Phone numbers excised.]

We look forward to seeing you at the Show of Shows in Louisville, Kentucky.

"Very best regards,

"Barry, Jeff, Shep, and Fred

"FJP Auctions, Inc."

A very sad message indeed. I am getting tired of saying this. but: Something MUST be done!

FJP has cancelled their auction scheduled for 22 February 2007 -- reason? -- the "Stolen Valor Act".

Yeah, I have seen the image too. I consider it fantasy too.

Nice uniform, despite the unrestrained rampant fantasy regarding the awards.

Excellent!!! (Is it in French or English?).

Ch.

Talk about French awards in French, if you must. Otherwise mai to sirf Bharatai medaylon be bare me bol kar dunga.

My problem is I'd actually like to LEARN something about post-Liberation Cuban medals. (Silly me.)

Hmmmm . . . taking about Cuban medals in French . . . guess we'll talk about Mongolian awards in Swahili next?

Even that later stuff, conjuring phoney brotherhood.