Soviets receiving awards in Afghanistan

[Dat Nguyen]

Greetings to All,

LiveLeak.com - Soviet General inspecting his troops - 1988 Afghanistan.

This is a LiveLeak link showing a Russian General visiting his troops in the field in Afghanistan. At the end of the video the general is seen handing out what looks like the Medal for Combat Service to a couple of the soldiers.

v/r
Dat Nguyen

[Ralph Pickard]

Dat - thanks for your thread. Over the last few years have you been able to add more Afghan medals that were presented to Soviet soldiers to your collection?

[Dat Nguyen]

Hello Ralph,

The market has dried up on the military post in Afghanistan. I think we purchased every thing worth collecting over there. Every now and then, something neat would come up for sale. The asking price is not worth haggling over because it is way way too high and the quality is very poor.

v/r
Dat

[CtahhR]

I'm hoping as Herrick 20B withdraws the locals will see this as a last hurrah to sell the goodies to British forces. Maybe they've been saving some bits and will have to present them whilst the opportunity is there.

I'm hoping to snatch everything available. Trade for food, supplies or hard cash I'm easy!

[Dat Nguyen]

Oh yeah that would be nice to see some goodies showing up at the bazaar.

But it has been dead for while now. I have been there on and off since 2005 and most of the vendors are selling lapis (cool looking blue rocks), gem stones (some are fakes), jewelry, scarves, and some hand made wooden crafts.

The main guy that I go to keep telling me, "Kabul, finished." and I believe him.

Years ago, one can buy a good quality Afghan Arsenal made Martini-Henry rifle without any problems. Now, you can't even find a decent one.

I have not seen an Afghan era medal for sale in years. Every now and then a Soviet Order of the Red Star would show up, but that is about it.

[Ralph Pickard]

Dat - thank you very much for the update on what you have seen related to the Afghan collecting market. Very much appreciated the information.