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    Chuck In Oregon

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    Everything posted by Chuck In Oregon

    1. Chuck In Oregon
      Volga Village Memorial
      This is the sole memorial in a cemetery in a small town along the Volga River. It speaks to me.
    2. Chuck In Oregon
      Brave Old Vet
      This veteran is wearing an OPW-2 and a Glory-3 among her decorations. I have met, in person, only a few women with valor awards. She is wearing them with pride.
    3. Chuck In Oregon
      Telling His Story On Victory Day
      I have chatted with this gentleman on a couple of occasions over the years and he has always impressed me. He's telling me a little bit of his story on Victory Day (I don't remember which year) in Tbilisi.
    4. Chuck In Oregon
      Feeding A Child
      Soldiers stationed in Georgia were always eager to help "our" orphans. One of the most generous units was The Rifle Volunteers from south-west England. I've written a story about them that, I'm told, still hangs in their headquarters. All of them were experienced combat veterans who were in Georgia on a training mission. They came with us to Dzegvi Children's Home outside of the ancient capitol of Mtskheta with two army truckloads (note: not pick-up trucks) of food, blankets, clothes that they had purchased with their own money and lots of goodies for the children. I didn't know what treacle was. No one who was there did except these guys. This is their commanding officer introducing a very scared little girl to treacle. I love this picture. Soldiers are such easy touches for kids. An aside: On the way to the orphanage the guys decided they hadn't brought enough stuff. They had us pull over at a roadside store, a small convenience store. The guys were a little rowdy and maybe a little bawdy as they toured the little store, laughing and pointing. Finally one of them said to the store owner "We'll take it." "What, exactly, would you like?" he asked. "EVERYTHING!" they shouted. So away we went with the entire store inventory, except for things like cigarettes and beer, stuffed into the back of the trucks and inside our cars. It's one of my best memories. How can you not love guys who will do things like that? There were generous female Rifle Volunteers, too, but not with us that day. Thank you, Rifle Volunteers.
    5. Chuck In Oregon
      Battle Of Britain
      Wow. Thank you for that.
    6. Chuck In Oregon
      Remembering At The Tomb
      Thank you. That's a very kind thing to say. This is one of my all-time favorite photos. Pure luck that I was able to catch it. I'll be sharing a few more in this contest. It offers me a format to show some of the things that have moved me over the past few years, especially in Georgia. I don't know about a gift but I do know about luck. If you had a LOT of time I could tell you something about mine. Suffice it merely to say that I am the luckiest guy I ever knew.
    7. Chuck In Oregon
      Old Vet With Stalin Image
      The old veterans come to Tbilisi's Vake Park every Victory Day. They want us to remember their sacrifices and know that they love their leader. I understand that.
    8. Chuck In Oregon
      Yes, WOW! for sure. Thank you for sharing this treasure with us and thank you, Paul, for the quick identifications. Welcome to GMIC, Jakob. Friendly help like this is the norm here. Chuck
    9. Chuck In Oregon
      Grandfather Visits
      The children are social orphans, abandoned at the Telavi Children's Home at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountain Range in eastern Georgia. They are are from a badly fractured family. There was no longer any food or clothing for them and there never would be, ever again. Grandfather walks the seven miles from their village to the home every Saturday to visit the children. He has nothing for them but love, but he gives it generously. He brings news from the village, from and about absent friends and relatives. They are each holding small gifts from foreign donors who will never see them and whom they will never meet. The gifts are often the first things these children have ever owned for themselves. Grandfather is taking his gift back to the village. There are always more children. It is bitterly cold in the Caucasus but grandfather will continue his Saturday walks, despite the weather, for the rest of his life. Because that's what love does.
    10. Chuck In Oregon
      Bin Of Iron
      I'm told that every Soviet museum of the Great Patriotic War had one of these, a large bin of Iron Crosses taken from German prisoners and corpses with a few other war mementos thrown in as accents. This one is in the Russian Military Museum in Moscow. These stories will never be told. It's probably better that way.
    11. Chuck In Oregon
      Remembering At The Tomb
      I imagine her as a young girl, freshly married, whose new husband has been called to war. She'll never see him again but his memory has burned in her soul all these years. She visits Georgia's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every year, not to say good-bye but to say hello.
    12. Chuck In Oregon
      Queen Tamar 3 text 1020x1057 Low
      OK, I'll start this contest off with a photo of my Order of Queen Tamar (3rd class, as Rick taught me) and dedication. I was going to share it in The Lounge but this contest seemed like a better format. I never met Rick but I miss him. Chuck
    13. Chuck In Oregon
      I really like that picture. They look very dignified. They must have survived a lot. Chuck
    14. Chuck In Oregon
      Page 30-31? Well, maybe. I saw that one but I decided mine isn't that badge because of the St. George ribbon and the pin back. Also, the crown is out of proportion on that one. I'm not yet convinced. And you're right, it's really not that plain. Chuck
    15. Chuck In Oregon
      Yes, it is close but one plain red cross looks like another, for the most part. But what would explain the St. George (?) metal ribbon around it. I have no definitive explanation and it doesn't appear in my medical badges reference book, although that is admittedly not comprehensive. Thanks for the help. Your explanation is very possible the right one. Chuck
    16. Chuck In Oregon
      Same story. During my re-org I found two more Imperial medical badges. Here's the first one. I have the meaning of the letters written down somewhere but I haven't come across it yet. Here's the second. I don't think I have notes on this one (remember, I'm reorganizing) but I think it's the badge of something like a regimental surgeon. As always, I appreciate corrections and comments. Enjoy. Chuck
    17. Chuck In Oregon
      That is a great display. Wish I could have seen it in person. Congratulations on winning and on educating the attendees on your subject. Chuck
    18. Chuck In Oregon
      Hello AD and welcome to GMIC. If this is one of your interests then you've found the right place. I'm looking forward to the things you will share with us. I do not pretend to any expertise but we do have some real experts here. If I had received Igor's advice about the two crosses, I know I'd take it gratefully. How about telling us a little about yourself and what you collect? I guarantee that you'll find some kindred souls here. Chuck
    19. Chuck In Oregon
      Your attitude and willingness to help are part of the best things about this forum. Believe it or not, I found two more medical badges today. Same story. I had gone to Tbilisi in 2009, brought them home and immediately shelved them when our problems arose. This clean-up is like a treasure hunt. I also found a bunch of sketches and some great old photos, same story. I can't post them today. I'm about to get busy here but tomorrow or Sunday or maybe late in the evening. But soon. That little Alexander II badge is a mystery, isn't it. I hope one of us can figure it out. One of the two new badges may stump you. You'll see. Chuck
    20. Chuck In Oregon
      Thank you for the excellent help. There was a time when my ignorance would embarrass me so much that I wouldn't post for a long time after. These days I just take it for granted. I love learning this stuff. Chuck
    21. Chuck In Oregon
      As I may have mentioned, I've recently had the time and inclination to get active in the hobby again. Hauptmann helped me a lot with that. As a big part of that I've been cleaning up my man-cave and organizing a lot of things that are long overdue. When I reached into the back of one shelf I found a plastic bag with these three badges in it. It finally dawned on me why they were there. I brought them back from Tbilisi in 2009. Very shortly after I came home my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, her second cancer diagnosis. To the back of the shelf the badges went, uncatalogued and unnoticed. As you might imagine, our lives changed dramatically and all my interests became very unimportant and stayed that way until recently, at the end of her lengthy recovery from yet another very serious problem. The important good news is that she's healthy, strong and flexible today. So here they are, three badges I've had since 2009 but am just now sharing. On the left is a Military Medical Academy badge. On the right is what I believe to be a Military Dental Academy badge. I don't know what the small Alexander II badge is. I'm hoping someone can tell me. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-616-0-88968700-1379635460.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-616-0-03672000-1379635477.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-616-0-57640600-1379635493.jpg The book is one of my best references on Imperial medical badges. I show the dental academy badge (?) on the bottom right along with an explanation of it. I'm enjoying the hobby again and this was a real surprise find. Chuck
    22. Chuck In Oregon
      And finally, for now, a 1932 Spartakiad pin. I don't know whether it is just a souvenir or if it had a particular meaning. Does anyone know? Kind of nice, either way. Chuck
    23. Chuck In Oregon
      Here are a few more: I finally identified the right item, thanks to the site that kimj recommended, as a broken-off piece of an early ODVF badge/pin. Here's one of my best and favorite badges: And finally, an Auto-Lovers Club, which I didn't know was related: Hope you like 'em. Chuck
    24. Chuck In Oregon
      I found a few more things to share here. Two are Georgian ODVF and I think the third one is, too. I have never seen any of these three anywhere else. If you have, please let me know where to look. I really like the red ODVF flag. Got a couple more coming up. Chuck
    25. Chuck In Oregon
      My notes on this group, which I call my Dobrokhim Group: Leonid Petrovich Filipov - Militia MVD worker - 4 photos pre- and during WW II - 3 Oso badges (1 Physiculture, 1 Dobrokhim, 1 GTO) Top right photo is 1943, large photo is 1942 Enjoy. Chuck
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