Greg Collins

And the back:

An enlargement of the State Seal:

Oooops, double post. Sorry...

Ok, ok, I know I said "a couple...", but I thought I'd try to squeeze another one in here before starting another thread. The RSR variation of the badge is the only version I had seen, and I did not think this badge existed in an RPR version until now. Well, here it is, the "For Militia Merit" RPR badge. The only differences between this RPR variation and RSR variations are the State Seal and the screw back.

Frank, IMO this is nothing more than an attempt to sell a fake anti-partisan badge. I strongly doubt any Russian entity would copy any design having 3rd Reich roots.

I may be going way out on a limb here, but taking the uniform and physical appearance into account, it appears to be a photo of a member of the Prussian royal family- perhaps Wilhelm II. An excerpt from Wikipedia states, "A traumatic breech birth left him with a withered left arm due to Erb's palsy, which he tried with some success to conceal. In many photos he carries a pair of white gloves in his left hand to make the arm seem longer, holds his left hand with his right, or has his crippled arm on the hilt of a sword or holding a cane to give the effect of a useful limb posed at a dignified angle." While it certainly might be the camera angle, his left arm here does look shorter than the right. My best guess.

Am curious as to the medium (media) you are using. Would guess coloured pencil- probably Rowney. As I've been "out of the game" for some time now, there's probably more to choose from nowadays. You have a wonderful touch and a superb sense of light. Great work!

Kevin, I believe those are R.S.R. (post 1965). The lower banner on the seal appears to read "Romania" instead of "RPR". The RPR design was, basically, a copy of the Soviet design of the time (as was the Hungarian, to name another: twin tanks flanking a central shield). After '65, the badge was redesigned to the examples here. Greg

Thanks, Mervyn. I'm happy to be able to contribute and glad you are enjoying the design. I have received more than a couple compliments on the pin from folks not even associated with collecting, which is gratifying. I think the GMIC has done more for me than I have done for it; the fellowship, information gained and, frankly, the moments I can spend away from this remote and rather uninteresting area and spend time, via the internet, with friends from cities and lands I've either visited or wished to visit and share a common and noble interest. To this end, I'm glad I've been able to help, and will continue to try and be of some service in the future.

I'm in kind of a "bitchy" mood today; on the two days I've had off, I had to go to meetings at the joint on both days. These people have meetings to decide when to have more meetings!!! Nothing is ever accomplished during said meetings except to expose how education deprived the speakers are. In the 8 years I spent in the Navy, we trotted all over the Far East, Central America, shot through the Panama Canal, went through Grenada, blasted the crap out of Beirut- all without meetings. Amazing! OK, I'm going to calm down now... breathe... slow down. OK, I'm better now. Earlier today, I posted three new PMR (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) awards to my PMR Gallery. A couple are fairly interesting; there's a 20 Years of the Customs Service medal and an Honoured Official of the Justice Ministry that bears a look if you have time. The customs medal is one of the nicest deep relief medals I've seen, especially the reverse. Add to this the fact that PMR Customs awards are VERY difficult to come by. The Justice Ministry badge is, currently, the highest award issued by that ministry. It has a "rayed" background that is handled in a way reminiscent of the early Soviet MVD "egg" badges, although the badge is one-piece. The overall quality of PMR items has improved of late. One reason is that, apparently, they have settled on one supplier (I'm seeing a new level of consistency that was not there before). Also, the country as a whole seems to be going through the motions of settling into itself... elections, a new President, an enhanced program of diplomacy. We'll see... Still looking for a reasonable source for CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) items; I only need about 3 to 4 pieces to complete the collection. If you have, or know someone who has, access to Molotok.ru please let me know. One last item, and to me it's a BIG one, I've been given the honour of designation as "Old Contemptible". I guess I have arrived, and I'm very proud of this. Thanks to all who made this possible; it's quite a rush. Until Next Time, Take Care, Greg

Thanks, Hipnos! And a very Happy Birthday (belated) to you! By the way, I was in Madrid at the tender age of 6 (1960). Best, Greg

It's a badge celebrating National Firemen's Day. I can read the date as 26 August 1934, but can't quite make out the abbreviation for the location (in Germany).

Yes.

Thanks, Mervyn! Thought I'd check out the pin sales before I get too "uppity" about the logo (most here probably already know I designed it)... I've found that kind words are always nice, but the proof of the pudding is when someone is willing to throw their money at it. Remember, the degree was in "Commercial" Art... Greg

Well, as of 1338 (Eastern Standard Time) today, I became 58 years old. I was taking a nap at that moment, so I didn't notice any great change. In essence, a non-event. But, to be honest, I have been, lately, mulling over the passage of time and what I've seen during my half-century plus on the blue marble. If nothing else, it's been an interesting ride. At the risk of boring the readership, I provide the following highlights: -I've been to all 50 states in the USA and 27 countries; during all of this, I've lived awhile (more than one year) in Virginia, the D.C. area, Southern California, Montreal, the Philippines and the Tokyo area. -my stepfather was, alas, a true-to-life "flim-flam" man... a con-artist. This goes toward explaining the above... many of those locations were brought on by this, and I have lived in many of those locales but only for a short time (getting up at midnight and "blowing town" with all you can pack in one bag). -during all this, I learned (taught myself as I was so "mobile") to play the guitar. Began at 7 years old, and have been able to, relatively, master the 6 and 12 string guitars and the 10 string cittern. Something I've been able to keep with me all along. -began Tang Soo Do training in 1968 and, though hampered by events, managed by the mid '80's to achieve 4th Degree (Master) ranking in that. Also achieved degree ranking in Tae Kwon Do (3rd), Hap Ki Do (1st) and Kum Do (1st). -managed to graduate from Fork Union Military Academy, after attending since the 8th grade (my parents decided to leave me in one place at that point) in 1972. Just found out that 12 of my class mates are no longer with us- that out of a class numbering 89. Sad stuff. -dropped out of Virginia Tech in 1973; heavily into student radicalism and some other extra-curricular activities. Anti war, pro labour. Joined the Communist Party in '72 while a student at Tech. -worked for AMF Incorporated as a metal finisher from '73 until '76. Rose to journeyman ranking fairly quickly and, in '76, was making $13 per hour- quite high for the time. Was able to buy my first car... a Mustang 2 Ghia- black on black, four on the floor!!! A "chick magnet". -joined the Navy in '76 for no other reason than to get back to Japan (loved it there- was there in '66 through '67). Mission accomplished- my first ship was the USS Kirk FF-1087 out of Yokosuka. Stayed from '77 until '80. Returned to states and shore duty with something I picked up... my first wife (from the Philippines). -volunteered, and was accepted, to recommission the USS New Jersey BB-62... first marriage on the rocks; shore duty sucked. Stayed aboard until wounded in Beirut on 1 October 1983. -discharged from the Navy on 31 August 1984 after a fairly long stay at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda. Continued recovery on an out-patient basis at the D.C. VA Center. -returned to college, on the G.I. Bill, in 1985 and, in 1987 received a degree in Commercial Art/Photography "Summa Cum Laude" (3.96 average). Here, I met my current wife who was engaged in the same course work. -came to the house I now occupy in 1988. The middle of nowhere in the rocker between Charlottesville and Richmond, and where I was born in 1954. Full circle, it seems. -worked in the advertising field from 1988 until 1999. At that point, the owner of the firm I'd been with for nearly 5 1/2 years decided to engage in some extra marital fun and, as it goes, the business was part of the divorce settlement. When I got there one morning, there was a chain and lock on the door. -as a stop-gap measure, I became employed in the prison system that year. It was supposed to be temporary but I suppose I got lazy/disenchanted/disheartened/whatever. Anyway, here I am. It was also during this time that, while tasked with an art job from the Irish Republican Socialist Party (leftist comrades), I began my journey into collecting. -and so, in 2012, this is where I am. Of course, this is only some of the high (or low) lights... an over simplification of a life to date. Nowadays, it seems one of few focuses in my life is the collecting, which is fine. I believe the "caretaking" of history to be a noble pursuit, and it continues to give me a great deal of pleasure. One of the aspects that I'm very motivated by these days is the collecting of a new, yet unrecognized, country- the PMR- and watching, through both study and collecting, how a country grows from an abstract idea to statehood. Exciting to be "on the ground floor" of this avenue of collecting. Until Next Time, Take Care, Greg

Yours looks to be brass (some were plated steel). As to the vintage- '40's to '50's... difficult to be more specific than that. Welcome!

Frank, Sorry to hear of your wife's mishap and hope she is, at least, comfortable (pain free) during what I hope will be a speedy recovery. My best to both of you. Greg

Am fortunate in the hair department... our Hiberno-Norse (West Cork) male roots bequeathed this mix of multiple shades going from blond to red to light brown to darker brown. As we age, the grey begins at the chin (prior to the greying, it was red) and goes upwards until it covers just north of the ears. The result is that greying on the sides that everyone seems to think looks "distinguished". This is how we depart the mortal coil- my Grandfather was 83 when he bowed out and that was what his hair looked like, and it is the way mine is now. With regard to the paycheck thing; like everything else you do in life, a series of decisions, whether good or bad, brought you to where you are. At one point in my life (1999), I saw that the agency (advertising) where I was employed was just not going to last. The owner had made some unthinking and disastrous mistakes and put the business into real trouble. We could no longer trust the solvency of the organization- our paychecks began to bounce. I was talked into a State job which borrowed on a part of my military experience- I went to work in the prison system (womens maximum security, to be exact). I did this only as a "stop-gap" measure- until I could reinsert myself into the creative end of advertising. Well, frankly, I got lazy, did not keep abreast of changes in the field, blah, blah, blah, and 13 years later, here I remain. It is not a job I recommend- we have even surpassed dentists (formally at the top of the list) for suicides. On the other hand, and for some strange reason, I seem to be good at it (?) and it IS a paycheck, just not a very pleasant way of making a living. And I'm surrounded by those who are, basically, functionally illiterate. Frustrating.

If the uniform proves to be the genuine article, I would like to think that the Mongolian government would try to get the uniform back (out of national and historic pride). Makes me wonder, say, how long one of Marshal Zhukov's (in two of the above photos) uniforms would last on an auction site.

Your first at 52!!! Congratulations! I chose the early route... my granddaughter just graduated high school. I cannot imagine doing what you are doing now at our ages (although, if my granddaughter provides a little one any time soon, I guess I'll probably get the chance). The great thing about being a grandparent, over a parent, is that you can spoil them rotten and then give them back. Sort of a benevolent revenge thing...

It's be awhile since I last wrote... a fair amount of things going on in both my personal and paycheck lives- to quote David Bowie, "ch, ch, ch, changes..."; some changes- ok, some changes- not so ok and, to be frank, some changes I'm having a very difficult time supporting (most of those dealing with the paycheck life). But I won't bore all of you with the details; it has, after all, nothing to do with collecting. Though I haven't written, I have steadily posted images to my galleries. A great deal of the items have been items already in the collections but there have been a few new items... I recently had the good fortune of acquiring a couple of fairly rare RPR (Romanian) pieces: a very early, numbered Border Guard badge and an early, numbered Honoured Radioman badge. Also picked up a couple of Soviet long service medals for the KGB (the variants with the Roman numerals on the front)- I also have a 20 year Georgian MOOP medal on the way. And, as usual, I was able to score a few more PMR (Transnistrian) awards. I believe my collection in this realm might be the most complete anywhere; don't know for sure, though. Having a little challenge with the CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) end of things. I look at what's offered on Molotuk, ru. but, as I live in the States, I can't deal there. Been trying to talk some of my dealers in that neighborhood into getting the items I want but, because they are relatively inexpensive, I don't think they want to be bothered with them. The thing is, I collect items that appeal to me... if they are valuable, great! If not, they still appeal to me and have a place in the collection. I'm really not motivated by the value so much as the enjoyment of what I (we) do. Maybe that's why I'm not a seller, per se. Looking down the barrel at 58... it will be here on the 28th. Hmmmmm, never thought I'd make it this far. Almost didn't (Beirut '83). For those who haven't made it that far yet, I have one thing to say (and remember this), "Getting old ain't for sissies!!!". You have got to be nail-chewing tough to take the ass whippin' old age deals out; almost on a daily basis. And friends, this is the absolute truth. When you look in the mirror to shave in the morning and you see your Grandfather looking back at you, and you remember all those things he told you which you wrote off as some old geezer's crap well, friends, the chickens have come home to roost! Payback is indeed what they say it is... OK, I'm done ranting at that which cannot be changed. Will write more later...

Gordon, This is, more or less, a rhetorical question, but I have often wondered whether or not the plough was an inspiration from the Irish Republican Brotherhood which Lenin called the first Red Army.