IrishGunner

Wasps, what is the source of your image? Curious that those those service ribbons do not appear on the LAPD's own site.

The photo on the Sanford PD website of their chief has ribbons similar to the ones on Officer Walsh's obituary photo. http://www.sanfordfl.gov/departments/police-department/message-from-the-chief As for Singleton, the ribbon set she is wearing couldn't even be one she earned in the military; that combination is improbable, let alone out of precedent order. Reading the article, I am amazed that someone in authority with the SFD thought it was a good idea to re-purpose official DoD decorations. I am even more amazed that someone who had served in the military - Singleton - would actually wear the re-purposed ribbons knowing that they are not authorized to wear said ribbons. Borders on stolen valor. The excuse given by the SFD is even more incredulous; we didn't think anyone would notice since most of those authorized to wear the ribbons are dead. I guess I must be dead, because I've been awarded the WW2 Army of Occupation Medal for service in West Berlin 1983-1986. The AOM was awarded to all who served in Berlin up until unification in 1991.

#4 Navy Unit Commendation #5 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (stars multiple awards) #6 Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (star multiple award) #7 Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (stars multiple awards) #11 Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (stars multiple awards) #12 Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (stars multiple awards) #13 Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon (He served as a US Embassy Marine Security Guard) #14 Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hourglass = 20 Years in the reserves; M = Mobilized; 2 = 2x Mobilized) So, this LAPD officer has a lot of time in the US Marine Corps Reserve, with multiple deployments; based on the MSG Ribbon, he likely had active duty time as well. I am not familiar with police department decorations; however, the LAPD website lists only a "Reserve Service Ribbon" for 4000 hours as a reserve officer. I am guessing that our fellow is a reserve Marine, but a regular duty police offer; thus no police service ribbon. http://www.lapdonline.org/history_of_the_lapd/content_basic_view/1127 I wonder if he can wear his LAPD decorations on his USMC uniform.

Chris, I would think anything Bavarian would garner some interest, but do you think the entire Bavarian infantry might not be too broad? It seems to me that the Alpenkorps alone would seem to be an area you could really drill down and focus and actually might have a wider audience. Alpenkorps would attract Bavarian, infantry, Jäger, and mountain interests. The mountain interest would even attract non-infantry guys like me that have a side interest in mountain troops. I've followed your posts/comments on the Alpenkorps with considerable interest. You could maybe even do two volumes. One on Bavarian Inf/Res Inf and one on Alpenkorps Jäger. I really think the two volume approach would broaden appeal to other groups.

No, I'll have to look for it...

This is a very nice one. I served in the same brigade in 10th Mountain Division with 1-32 Infantry, always in awe when we would hear a recount of the battalion's lineage at brigade events.

Link didn't work, Ed.

Indeed, a very nice one to have. Rangers Lead the Way!

Good article. But wouldn't Nahkämpfer with Granatenwerfer be more an offensive role vice defense? Sending fellows to a course seems more than just a "contingency" measure should there be a breakthrough like described in the article. Machine guns make sense in that case, but not grenade launchers, at least in my view.

Or the division commander got tired of infantrymen pretending to be gunners and always missing their targets with those grenades. :-) But seriously, it does offer up an interesting research tangent, wouldn't you say?

Thanks! Although, it didn't take long to realize how much I've already forgotten. Fussartillerie you say? That would make this a really great pick-up. Now that I look closer, it does look like an artillery bomb on the shoulder strap of the guy just to the right of the Granatenwerfer. But, the question now is... Why on earth would Fussartillerie attend a Nahkampfmittel course?!

So, I've been away from GMIC for almost 2 years and haven't bought anything since 2015. But the boat is in dry-dock for repairs; so, I have time on my hands in between getting caught up on gardening/landscaping that's also been ignored for way too long. So, off I go to see what's new in online auctions and artillery for old time's sake. And I did snag a couple artillery RPPCs. But this one also caught my eye. I don't have an image of the Granatenwerfer 16 in my collection; yes, I know it's not artillery - but it is indirect fire and worth a spot. This RPPC also caught my eye because of the Nahkampf remarks on the reverse. My ability to read German handwriting has severely atrophied; so, any help in deciphering the attached note would be appreciated.

Indeed, nice photo of gunners

My guess would be Mobilisierungskreuz 1912/13 (Mobilization Cross 1912/13)

Very much agreed. (Especially, an artillery doc! )

Almost 8 years later and you don't even know if they received the document or if it was lost in transit or they stuck it in a drawer or even sold it themselves? To be honest, I'm not sure I would have donated it without some firm assurances in writing that it indeed would be in its "rightful place." Foi est Tout, but verify. Even then it would have taken some really smooth talking on their part.

Sorry, Ed, way outside my lane and my usual Google tricks are coming up empty.

That eight-pointed star is the primary clue then... And Hugh could be right, a merchant or shipping line insignia.

You know, now that I look at it again, it seems odd that the eight-pointed star is silverish in color and appears to be "pinned" onto the cap vice an integral part of the insignia. Even the anchor looks metallic and more "pinned" onto the cap than an integral part of the insignia. Only the wreath appears braided. I guess all that is possible, but shouldn't the cap insignia be all one integral piece rather than appearing put together? We may never find an answer on this one...

If it's the sense of his life and not specifics about his service and unit histories, there is a lot of general, albeit broad, information about the RGA in WWI on the internet. Simply use Google and a few standard phrases like "Battery life Royal Garrison Artillery WWI". You will start to get a multitude of links that often lead you to more detailed information. You can spend hours with this and is often how I start researching, even when my goal is much more specific information. You never know where a search result may lead. For example, you will find there are several books written by RGA gunners about the experience of their units; some examples: "A History of 154 Siege Battery," "With a Siege Battery in France: 303 Siege Battery RGA," and "History of the 135 Siege Battery RGA." Of course, these won't be specific to your man, but could give you a sense for what his life may have been like in a RGA Battery. Maybe you'll get lucky and find that someone wrote about his unit.

Well, as I am sure you know, Navy service cap. But from which country is the question. The eight-pointed star at the top reminds me of the Star of Ishtar; so, I'm guessing a Muslim country. I've eliminated Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey; at least as far a a quick Google search allowed.

Paul, you have to really like the Kondraciuk group with the Liberation of Warsaw medal! Nick, the round stamp with the eagle is from the "Wojska Polska" - Polish Army - at the top of the stamp. I can't read the print around the bottom of the stamp, but I'm guessing possibly a unit designation. The stamp underneath the red signature reads "Wojskowa Komenda Uzupełnień" - this means a provincial military reserve administration. "Korman" is a usual Polish family name, but I don't know the abbreviation "Bol." Along with the Capture of Berlin medal, Kondraciuk must have been part of Polish First Army or "Pierwsza Armia Wojska Polskiego" formed by the Soviets in 1944. Possibly a very research worthy group. Thanks for sharing!

You need to garner invitations to some better dinner parties! Great to read you again! Hope all is well.

I agree these are kinda nice. How can you not love those crossed cannons!

First I've seen this certificate. Very interesting.