RARE ORIGINAL WW2 US MEDAL LEGION OF MERIT AWARD TO RUSSIAN USSR TRUMAN LETTER For Sale

RARE ORIGINAL WW2 US MEDAL LEGION OF MERIT AWARD TO RUSSIAN USSR TRUMAN LETTER
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RARE ORIGINAL WW2 US MEDAL LEGION OF MERIT AWARD TO RUSSIAN USSR TRUMAN LETTER:
$1749.00

Rare US Medal award to a Russian USSR Soviet soldier! A pair of original documents wherein the US honors a USSR soldier in the Red Army for WW2 service and consisting of: (1) the formal award document for the Legion of Merit, Legionnaire Degree with a color image of the Legion of Merit, signed by the Secretary of War and by a Major General, and (2) the formal citation for the award, with the original ink signature of President Harry Truman. The recipient isColonel John Telkoff, Commander of Artillery in the 129th Corps of the Red Army for actions in Central Europe between February 1, 1945 and May 8, 1945, contributing materially to the defeat of the German Army.
This represents an unwritten chapter in history of the time from the cooperation between allies in WW2 to the quick shift into the Cold War. The Legion of Merit can be awarded to “personnel of the armed forces of friendly foreign nations.” So, for a period in 1946, the Soviet Union was considered sufficiently friendly that this recognition was bestowed (along with a group of 100-200 similar awards) by both the Secretary of War and President of the United States, who are signatories. This attitude did not last long as the documents and medals were apparently never conveyed to the recipients.
The Legion of Merit document is approximately 10” x 12” and is dated April 9, 1946. It bears the original ink signatures of U.S. Army Adjutant General Edward F. Witsell (signature smudged), and Secretary of War Robert Patterson. It carries the embossed seal of the United States Army. The recipient’s name is written in pencil in Russian near the top edge, and the way in which it is written in the original Russian makes it clear that the use of the name “John Telkoff” may be a slightly imperfect transliteration of the Colonel’s name from Russian to English.
The official citation for the award is on watermarked stationary with the raised designation of “The White House Washington.” Beneath the typed paragraph setting forth the basis for the award is the large, bold, original, ink signature of President Harry Truman. The document is approximately 8” x 10 1/4”. The citation document has the recipient’s name written in Russian in pencil near the top edge, as well as the penciled number “62”.
US shipping is free (Priority mail with tracking). No international shipping. Buyer pays sales tax as determined by and applied by . This is a hobby not a living, so I try to keep it fun, otherwise why do it. Thank you for trading with me on .
_gsrx_vers_827 (GS 7.0.13 (827))
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