Kiwiussr's fabulous claim.

[Bundtrock]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

I think this is going to be interesting enough!

I have all 4 grades of the LOM, Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart and considerably more BUT I have the in the collection. A very different situation indeed.

I have my father's Purple Heart that he earned while serving in Northern Africa and Italy during WWII, I have it put away in a safe deposit box. I take great pride in my father's service.

[Tretov]

If we're into the awards of relatives, I keep my grandfathers Order of the Lion of Finland, Knight/First Class, very dear.

[CtahhR]

If we were into awards to relatives I'd unfortunately bias the focus of the forum. Britain is and always has been a very active participant in world conflicts.

Within my family we have "beyond" British interests "The Liberator" and the man whose corpse Washington wept over.

Historians will know exactly which persons I am talking about.

In the 21th century being products of people living in times of the industrialised warfare of the 20th and 19th centuries we will all have relatives who willingly or unwillingly found themselves in a military situation.

[kiwiussr]

sorry been so long since I have been on forum as have been away with work and just resecently returned home

in regards to the LOM was awarded to myself and 7 other members of my unit for work with American forces and operations in the late 80,s as part of joint operations in parts of central amercia as we were under US contrrol

The BS was awarded for actions in the first gulf war, again joint operations between UK/US forces, again several members of my unit recieved same awarded

DCM - awarded for actions in Northern Ireland, MM for actions in Lebanon, MID, one for first Gulf war, other also for Northern Ireland

hope this answers and questions

regards

kiwi

[desantnik]

Mind showing the U.S. documents?

I can't speak for the U.K. award, but for twelve years' service you seem to have been pretty busy, fortunate, or both.

Assuming you left service in 1992 immediately after the First Gulf War, you would have had to enter basic training in 1980.

You then would have been either a junior NCO or officer in the "late '80's." I can't imagine a LOM being awarded to either a U.S. or more importantly, foreign servicemember under those conditions. I have plenty of 7th Group friends who were fighting a "hot" Cold War in Central America in the late '80's and I'm pretty sure those "secret" wars weren't involving even our closest allies - SAS, SBS, or TAVN. Congress raked President Reagan over the coals for his activities there (Lt Col Ollie North) and the U.S. wasn't seeking a "coalition of the willing" to fight communism in Central America. Again, the LOM is an award reserved for senior recipients in combat or peacetime. I invite anyone to look here, but among foreign recipients, there are plenty of generals, admirals, marshals, etc.

Legion of Merit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Based on my conjectured timeline above, the BSM is in the realm of slight possibility, but not knowing the circumstances of the claimed awarding, possibility does not equal high probability. Again, the bar for awarding is higher for foreign personnel.

I am honored to offer $500 to see your docs with the name and/or personal information blocked out, either posted here or emailed to me. Such as sum is a mere price for my personal education or as a small token of thanks for an ally's service alongside deployed U.S. forces.

[slava1stclass]

Originally Posted by slava1stclass

desantnik,

The Legion of Merit struck me as particularly unusual given that the earned British decorations (DCM, MM) are awarded exclusively to the enlisted ranks.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Originally Posted by desantnik

I can't imagine a LOM being awarded to either a U.S. or more importantly, foreign servicemember under those conditions. Again, the LOM is an award reserved for senior recipients in combat or peacetime. I invite anyone to look here, but among foreign recipients, there are plenty of generals, admirals, marshals, etc.

Legion of Merit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gents,

As further evidence of the Legion of Merit's relative rarity as a combat zone decoration, one need only look at the number awarded to date to U.S. Army personnel for service in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters (after some 11 years of persistent conflict). The total number is in the very low double digits.

I will post the exact number when the U.S. Army publishes its next theater awards update.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[medals73]

Do I smell that acrid hormonal stench of a "Stolen Valor" lynch mob? Perhaps most of this should be conducted by PM?

[slava1stclass]

Originally Posted by medals73

Do I smell that acrid hormonal stench of a "Stolen Valor" lynch mob? Perhaps most of this should be conducted by PM?

medals73,

I see no need for PMs as this thread's tone has been nothing other than civil while also fact based.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[CtahhR]

Doesn't a "Stolen valor" lynch mob use a Lordship Industries MOH to carry out the sentence?

Most of those British awards will be named on the edge as issued. Older ones have a mechanical impression newer ones laser.

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by medals73

Do I smell that acrid hormonal stench of a "Stolen Valor" lynch mob? Perhaps most of this should be conducted by PM?

Ed, does the academic community condone plagiarism, shoddy research, paper mill diplomas, or unearned academic titles? Do you engage in peer review?

A member has made made a rather spectacular claim which is being prudently questioned, hormones excluded. If validated, I'll buy the man a $500 "drink" and thank him for his exploits. If not, maybe you can still defend him.