Gldank

Hello Brian, I was thinking the same thing but I know nothing about the ribbon or who owned it before me. Found in a Belgian flea market and sold cheap. It is old and does not look like it was put together recently then made to look old. It may have been made up by a veteran long ago to look important. That is why I put it here to spark some discussion and thoughts. Thank you for your thoughts.

I agree with you as this is the more popular medal with this ribbon colors. I have several different medals with this ribbon color (The official colors of Ghent). Thank you.

Jef, I am sure that your medal has the wrong ribbon for the medal. James

I knew that, thanks for reminding me!

Back

Hello All, I have a rough ribbon bar for a Belgian veteran. I am trying to identify some of the ribbons. This guy has been around. What do you all think? 1. Belgian Order of Leopold II 2. Belgian Croix de Guerre (WWII) 1940-1945 3. Belgian Resistance Medal 1940-1945 4. 5. 6. Belgian Secret Army Gratitude Medal (U.F.A.S.) 7. French Commemorative War medal (1939-1940) 8. British Defence Medal 9. Belgian Centenary of National Independence Commemorative Medal 10. Commemorative War Medal of General Dwight D. Eisenhower 1939-1945 (M.O.S.) 11. Inter-allied Distinguished Service Cross Second Class (M.O.S) 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. United Nations Service Medal for Korea 18. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

Very nice group! Interesting!

Here is a rare group of ribbon bars to the same person on the way to me as I post this. Robert Lapham, a U.S. Army infantry officer and guerrilla leader during World War II, passed away at 86 at his home in Sun City, Arizona on December 18, 2003. Bob Lapham was a twenty-five year old second lieutenant attached to the 45th Infantry (Philippine Scouts) when World War II broke out. Fifty days after the Japanese attacked, he joined a small group of officers authorized by General MacArthur to slip through the Japanese lines into the Zambales Mountains to organize guerrilla resistance groups. Lt. Lapham was extremely successful at this and eventually, as more senior officers were captured or killed by the Japanese, rose to command a guerrilla army of about 13,000 which controlled most of the northern half of Luzon's large Central Plain. At the war's end, now a major, Lapham was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General MacArthur and the Legion of Honor by the Philippine government. (The Legion of Honor is the highest decoration given to a non-Filipino by the Philippine government and Bob Lapham was the third person, following President Roosevelt and General MacArthur, ever to receive this award.) Many years later President Ferdinand Marcos would present him with the Philippine Distinguished Service Medal.

Older Waxen US WWII Merchant Marine Bars. On top are the older, wider Combat Sinking Ship Bars

Here are a couple I just picked up myself.

I guess they could be used as cuff links but they were not designed to be. Nice collection of different styles.

I would pay that price. I think you got a deal for a rare sample. Nice!

Very nice! I want one!

Awsome Jeff! Thanks.

Thank you Lion. Good info for my data base!

Group Picture...

Hello everyone, I hope all had a great Christmas and wish everyone Happy New Years. No Belgian postings here since 19 November so I thought I would post an interesting Belgian Career Group to a Andrie Albert Herman. A group picture follows.

What is even more interesting is that Benjamin's mother died 6 months before Ben of TB and I have her death certificate and also the marriage certificate of his mother and father. Ben's younger brother John went on to serve in the Korean war as a medic with an Armored unit, survived the war and died in 1967 (another research project). I have some of brother John's medical items and more pictures. Strange what comes from family groups. Thank you for the kind comments.

Papa Aubin...

Bronze Star letter...

Photos...

Engraving...

Medals

PFC Benjamin F. Aubin, #31263586 of Lowell, MA. Born 1924, enlisted May 13, 1943, KIA Luzon, Philippines January 25, 1945, Age 21. Ben was part of Company M, 27th Regiment (The Wolfhounds) of the 25th Army Division. The 27th Regiment landed at Lingayen Gulf over "White Beach 2," approximately one mile North West of San Fabian on the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines. From mid January until late February 1945, the Regiment was tasked to clear highways 3 and 8, south and east of Lingayen Gulf. Unlike the common jungles of Asia, this terrain was flat rice paddies and pastures, devoid of cover, except for small streams and irrigation ditches. The Japanese were stubborn defenders, with dug in infantry supported by tanks and anti-tank guns. Early in the day of January 25, 1945, Ben was “wounded in his left arm by shrapnel and reported to an aid station for treatment.” He was then “ordered to evacuate the line but voluntarily returned to his hard pressed buddies to fight the oncoming enemy. A few minutes later, hell broke loose and an enemy mortar shell landed right beside him, wounding him and causing death 10 minutes later.” Ben “said he was hit, and then fell unconscious with a smile on his face (?). He mumbled a short prayer and then passed away without pain.” As far as I can tell so far in my research, Ben was killed outside the town of Binalonan that faced the Japanese 2nd Armored Division reinforced by the Japanese 63rd infantry with a total enemy strength in the area of 500. I received this KIA group directly from the daughter of Ben’s younger brother (who later served in the Korean War). I hold Ben’s machined engraved cased and white boxed Purple Heart set with appropriate forwarding cards and certificate. His Machine engraved cased Bronze Star with brown paper citation letter. Photo and news paper articles of Ben’s father receiving his posthumous medals. A signed presentation certificate by the Governor of Massachusetts and the naming of a Lowell city square after Benjamin. Photos of Ben before and during the war. Japanese occupation money, “Crossing the Line” cards for crossing the equator onboard ship in transient to the Philippines. A sexy photo pose of Ben’s girlfriend back home. A two page letter from fellow soldiers who witnessed Ben’s death. And a few other minor items.