JBFloyd

And the reverse of the above medal.

The Medaille de la Mutualite, first type, in bronze. (Obverse)

An Order of the Oaken Crown, grand officer's set.

A 1940 Croix de Guerre.

Rick, These devices are generally referenced only on the 5th-7th classes, and then only on awards without swords. I can find no documentary evidence, but I have always assumed the the device was used for "immediate" awards, rather than those given for length of service.

The power of Google!

Olive Greene, a graduate of Wellesley, taught at the Girl's Collegiate Institute at Izmir for 40 years. By 1955, she had retired and was studying at the Hartford Theological Seminary. In 1955, she wrote a book review of a book on Islam, which appears on the web in a Quaker newsletter "Inward Light".

Those DFCs numbered on the back date from before World War II. Those numbered on the lower arm edge date from early WWII (and cannot be traced by number). After that, they were unnumbered. In 1947, the Army (including the Army Air Forces) reported that 126,318 DFCs had been awarded. This was 107,410 basic awards and 18,908 oak leaf clusters. Jeff Floyd

The reverse of the same two medals: Copy -- mushy designs in the national arms (compare the Belgian lions at 7:00 positions) -- leaves in the outer wreath outlined -- the Gs look like Cs in the lettering -- lack of proper Portuguese diacritical marks Original -- sharp designs in the national arms -- leaves in the wreath flat -- distinct letters, especially the Gs -- proper diacritical marks on the C and A of "Civilisacao"

On the viewer's left is a currently made copy of the Brazilian Victory Medal -- reddish tone -- heavy wear to the design highlights, but no wear elsewhere -- feathers in the wings look like shingles -- leaves in the wreath outlined -- very large suspension loop -- very thin planchet On the viewer's right is a Laslo official Type 2 (without the Mint's name on the edge) -- yellowish tone -- soft design, but not worn -- feathers in the wings indistinct (i.e., feathery) -- leaves in the wreath relatively flat with a central vein -- smaller suspension loop -- edge thick enough for the Mint's name

If there is sanity among the bidders, it rests with the first bidder at $4.51.

Brazil is the unknown ally in WWI. They actually had a substantial Navy and Merchant Marine, but got into the war too late for much Army participation. Their dreadnaughts were in terrible condition when Brazil got into the war, so they spent the war in Philadelphia, getting their boilers re-cored and overhauled. The lesser ships were used to patrol the seas off West Africa. They operated in an area roughly bounded by Dakar, the Azores and Bahia. When the flu epidemic hit, the illness ran through the Brazilian crews like wildfire. Some of ships were reporting that only 10% of their crews were effective -- everyone else was sick or caring for the sick. There is a cemetery in Dakar that is filled with their dead. So, the Victory Medal mostly went to the Navy. The Army had a few men in France and there was one Brazilian aviation unit in France (about 30 men, as I recall)

Jens, Thanks for the images. The American Battle Monuments Commission does an outstanding job in maintaining these cemeteries. While not the usual tourist sites, these are well worth visits by folks who do not have a background in military history. The enormity of the losses in the World Wars are rarely better illustrated to the ill-informed than standing at the entrance to one of these cemeteries and contemplating the numbers of men and women represented, and the contributions they could have made to the world had they not died at such any early age. It's also interesting to compare the cemeteries of the various nations. I find them all moving and impressive, but in very different ways.

"European Theater of Operations (Advance Base)" by my sources. Made up mostly of rear echelon support staff people. Rather common among the patch collectors, but it could find a good home with a young or new collector. Jeff Floyd

I've evolved my response in those cases to little more than "I wouldn't buy it if offered to me" or "I would buy it if offered to me". If the questioner asks further, he'll get my reasons; if not, he can simply ponder my response. In any case, my initial response does not address the piece, only my level of interest. Unsolicited advice only stokes the fire that may not have been there at first. And it's usually the one who offers the advice that becomes the villain.

Having dealt with a number of these folks, I have found that they are not collectors. If you ask technical questions or give them technical information, they are confused and embarrassed. They want something that "looks like" a picture in a book or in a movie. They do not see there is a difference between Taiwan-made and Godet-made. Furthermore, they don't care. They often think that they, as savvy buyers, made a killing buying that uniface PLM copy, while everyone else missed it. You cannot convince them otherwise and, if you try, they will assume that you are trying to steal their treasure. I have met at least 7 "collectors" who own von Richtofen's medal group. In every case, they "knew" it was good, usually because they bought it from the vet who brought it back. These folks think we have the problem, so I have left it at that. They're not worth ranting about. Sell them junk until they run out of money and go away.

Blanket permission was given to accept, but NOT wear the Saudi and Kuwaiti campaign medals. As Ed notes, decorations are handled individually.

The Good Conduct Medal notes only good conduct, not longevity. The qualifying period stops with a major infraction (assuming the commander has the cojones to stop it) and then restarts. The Long Service Award notes longevity, which is simply a function of the calendar. You will get the Longevity Service Award by being alive long enough; the Good Conduct Medal is not so automatic (theoretically). They're dopy awards, but traditional, and they're certainly no worse than long and short tour ribbons, NCO development, honor graduate and training ribbons.

Does anyone have access to post-WWII Navy Lists? I'm looking for info on a Commander E.W. Brown, RN. The full extent of my current knowledge is that he had WWII service (1939-45; Atlantic/Africa/Defense/War Medals) and he's not in my 1953 Navy Retired List. Any help would be appreciated. Jeff Floyd

Did the Kriegsmarine have temporary/acting ranks that would not have appeared in the rank lists?

I believe this is a group I sold to George nearly 20 years ago. If it is, there was a photo of Jantzen in uniform as a konteradmiral (wearing a matching ribbon bar) and an envelope from Navy Headquarters addressed to Jantzen as a gunboat skipper (the envelope had 10-15 feldpost stamps as the package followed him around China).

They tell you t's a dry heat (but, so's a blow torch).

I've never seen reference to a roll for these. The dead guys show up on the CWGC site, but those who lived don't seem to be recorded in easily reached sources.

The 2006 OMSA convention will be in Scottsdale,Arizona, in early August. It's a worldwide gathering of medal collectors of all specialties.

Rick, The ribbon color combination is not one I would have chosen. But the recipients were scientists who, traditionally, are not fashion forward! Jeff Floyd