Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) - Orders and Medals Society of ...

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 1

2 JOMSA

Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 

Founded in 1950 by S. G. Yasinitsky 

Volume 62, Number 2 

CONTENTS MARCH - APRIL 2011 

OMSA OFFICERS AND MANAGERS 

PRESIDENT: Fred L Borch 

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Phone: (434) 760-1901 

VICE PRESIDENT: Harry H. Bendorf 

DIRECTORS: 

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FEATURE ARTICLE 

William K. Emerson 

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Fred L. Borch: The Air Force Medal of Honor: A History of Its 

Adam G. Rohloff 

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.............................. 4 Nathan S. Weiss 

SELECTED ARTICLES 

SECRETARY�� 

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PO Box 540, Claymont, DE 19703-0540 

ctink1863@aol.com 

Lukasz Gaszewski�� TREASURER: �� 

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of Poland ........................................................................................... 23 

E-mail: jkh4163@aol.com 

Graham Wilson: �� JOMSA AD SALES�� 

Fourragère ........................................................................................ 32 1350 Scorpious Court 

Merritt Island, FL 32953-3131 

Phone: (321) 453-1605 

Edward J. Emering: : The Italian Red Cross Medal for Iraq .................. 39 �� 

DEPARTMENTS 

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Letters to the Editor .................................................................................. 2 

Meet the Authors ....................................................................................... 3 

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........................................................ 41 

Secretary’s Report ................................................................................... 43 

Collector’s Marketplace .......................................................................... 44 

JOMSA EDITOR: Richard A. Flory 

PO Box 120, Chico, CA 95927-0120 

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Phone: (530) 894-5008 

Fax: (866) 483-0026 

BOOK SALES, NON-RECEIPT OF 

CURRENT-YEAR ISSUE AND BACK 

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. E-mail: earleneroyston@yahoo.com 

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On The Cover: 

LIBRARY LIAISON: �� 

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Hollister CA 95023 

feature article by Fred L. Borch. 

The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America (ISSN 0025-6633) is published bi-monthly by the Orders and Medals 

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these should be submitted to the Editor. Reproduction of the contents of the Journal�� 

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S 

MESSAGE 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

Starting with this issue we are instituting a “Letters to the 

Editor” column. This column will be available to authors 

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who which to expand on, or correct, previous articles;; OMSA 

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members who wish to expand on or make corrections to 

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portions of previous articles (authors will be given the option 

�� to respond);; or members who have ideas on how to improve 

medals” on-line. I’d ask all of 

�� . The editor will decide which letters to publish and 

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Authors of accepted letters will receive page proofs of their 

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letters by email prior to publication so please include your 

or control the content of the Forum. In fact, your Board email address with your letter. 

of Directors has intentionally refrained from any daily 

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Richard Meixsel�� 

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Star,” JOMSA�� 

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from some members about rudeness and mean-spirited 

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February 1942 to MacArthur and his senior staff... 

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principle of freedom of speech means that OMSA should 

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disrespect or profanity. If you are on the Forum, you can 

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General MacArthur: 

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You can reach me on any OMSA topic at fred.borch@ 

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Ausejo and Major Pedro Merritt. Please transmit this 

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� � � � �� 

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concerns. But, if you feel the need to telephone, then call �� 

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for your support. 

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MEET THE AUTHORS 

Fred Borch has been an OMSA member for more than 

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book For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart 

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Ed Emering�� 

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has contributed more than 50 articles to JOMSA and has 

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Lukasz Gaszewski� �� 

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30 years. He is particularly interested in European medals 

and medals of the United States National Guard. He is a 

co-author of Burke’s Peerage and Gentry World Orders 

of Knighthood and Merit �� 

JOMSA�� 

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Graham Wilson spent 26 years in the Australian 

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WOULD YOU LIKE 

TO SEE YOUR 

BIOGRAPHY 

HERE? 

SUBMIT AN 

ARTICLE TO THE 

JOMSA EDITOR. 

PLAN NOW TO 

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ATTEND OMSA 

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the Department of Defense, and their Bichoodle pup 

2011 IN 

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JACKSONVILLE 


THE AIR FORCE MEDAL OF HONOR: 

A HISTORY OF ITS ORIGINS, DESIGN AND AWARD FROM 

1965 TO THE PRESENT 

FRED L. BORCH 

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For the next year and a half the Army Institute of Heraldry 

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Historical background 

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While the Air Force separated from the Army and became the decoration familiar to airmen today. 

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Army decorations and medals. For example, all airmen �� 

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facing up, the Air 

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letter, Horne stated that the Air Force Chief of Staff had �� 

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With this in mind, Horne �� 

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a. �� 

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symbolic of the dynamic role of the Air Force �� 

in the national defense structure. 

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2 b. The shape of the medal must be unique and �� 

A copy of Horne’s 

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c. �� 

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d. �� 

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Figure 1: Horne’s September 14, 1961 letter. 

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unique for this 

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in contradistinction to the Silver Star, 

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the Bronze Star Medal �� 

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Figure 2: Pankey’s January 15, 1962 letter. 

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ribbon. 4 

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equally appropriate as an alternate choice. 5 

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additions of neckline and shoulders, looks too much like �� 

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the face of the Goddess from our Statue of Liberty used as 

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principal theme.” 7 �� 

of Fine Arts. 

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Heraldry. In that letter, Finley stated that the proposed Air 

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the sculptural quality of the medal.” 

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Army artists also had acquiesced 

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similar to that used on the Army Medal of Honor, except 

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10 A copy of Finley’s 

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Force Medal of Honor. 

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done in October 1963 by the Medallic Art Company 

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Additionally, in April 1964, the Air Force directed 

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capture the sharp clear lines and youthful spirit” of Liberty. 

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chubby matron and reduced the aesthetic potential inherent 

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VALOR. It seems that 

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Figure 3: Finley’s September 25, 1962 letter. 

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Air Force Base until March 1966. 

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Air Force to have its own design�� 

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Figure 4: Preproduction model of Air Force Medal of Honor, 

circa 1965, credit: United States Army Institute of Heraldry. 

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Description and Symbolism 

Figure 5: Air Force Medal of Honor obverse, credit: United 

States Army Institute of Heraldry. 

Obverse (1965-present) 

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the number of states in the Union at the outbreak of the 

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VALOR. 

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Figure 6: Air Force Medal of Honor reverse, credit: Melvin 

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Figure 7: February 14, 1964 memorandum. 

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Reverse (1965-present) 

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manufactured medal. 

Air Force Medal of Honor Award Process 

Ribbon (1965-present) 

Criteria 

The VALOR�� 

blue, moiré silk pad, folded at the corners. There are 13 �� 

stars (each 7/64th inches in diameter) on the pad. These �� 

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and 3/16th inches. Three snaps are used to fasten it around 

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the recipient’s neck. 

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Nomination Process: Time Limits 

party. 13 

Under Title 10, United States Code, Section 8744, any 

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for the Air Force Medal of Honor must 

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be submitted within two years of the act and the Medal 

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Nomination Process: Procedure 

Secretary of the Air Force determines that an airman, in 

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While any person may nominate an airman for the Medal �� 

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e.g.�� 

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Second, under Title 10, United States Code, Section 

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�� based. �� Section �� 1130 requires ��that 

the Secretary determine 

initially recommends an airman for the Medal of Honor, �� 

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him to submit to both the House and Senate Committees 

Defense Department requires that the Medal of Honor �� 

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Secretary informs both the House and Senate committees 

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that the proposed Medal of Honor is meritorious, the next 

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the Medal of Honor to the nominated airman concerned. 

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folder, suitable for presentation by the President of 

the United States. 

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Additionally, each Medal of Honor recommendation the Air Force Medal of Honor. In October 2000, Airman 

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��Recommendation from the Combatant Commander �� 

concerned (for example, the Commander, United of the Air Force Whit Peters on December 8, 2000. 

States Central Command or Commander, United �� 

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��Recommendation from the Chief of Staff of the 

to an Air Force Medal of Honor and, on September 10, 

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��Recommendation from the Secretary of the Air �� 

Force 

President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony. 

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of Staff 

Intangible factors 

After these recommendations are part of a Medal of Honor �� 

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of Honor. 


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the difference. 

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likely to experience the close combat ordinarily required 

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situation required for a Medal of Honor. 

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Force Medal of Honor, in the sense that the success of a 

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of Honor nomination packet. Additionally, as the packet 

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First recipient: Major Bernard F. Fisher, March 10, 

1966. 

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can and does make a difference. On March 11, 1968, �� 

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part of a top-secret radar station. His extraordinary heroism �� 

that day in Laos was recognized at the time�� 

the Medal of Honor. His chain of command recommended �� 

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be captured before a rescue helicopter could reach him. 

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Fisher stopped his A-1E, and Myers climbed aboard. 

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the mechanism of Section 1130, started the process. �� 

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taken after Fisher’s rescue of Myers from the A Shau �� 

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the coast and the enemy. 

Vietnam in 1966. 

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Figure 8: Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (left) and D.W. “Jump” 

Myers, Vietnam, March 10, 1966. The photo was taken after 

Fisher’s rescue of Myers from the A Shau Valley;; Fisher’s A-1E 

Skyraider is in the background, credit: United States Air Force. 

Other recipients: 

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missile rose up from behind and struck the plane’s left 

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explosion. 

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eject, Bennett elected to ditch in the Gulf of Tonkin. He 

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Captain Steven L. Bennett, June 29, 1972 

Colonel George E. Day, August 26, 1967 

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With an Air Force Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Air 

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R. Ford on March 4, 1976. 

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Figure 9: Colonel George E. “Bud” Day is the most highly 

decorated living American, credit: United States Air Force. 

himself. Yet, despite his many injuries, he continued to 

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the enemy. 

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Major Merlyn H. Dethlefsen, March 10, 1967 

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Captain Dethlefsen nonetheless made repeated strikes 

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by North Vietnamese militia, taken to a prison camp, after they became obscured by the smoke and dust of 

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bombers. 

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Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and 

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Figure 10: Major Dethlefsen receives the Medal of Honor from 

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President Lyndon B. Johnson, credit: United States Air Force. 

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helped another to reach safety. 

Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger, March 

11, 1968 

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recent Air Force Medal of Honor recipient. His Air Force been pulled inside. He bled to death before he could reach 

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1st Lieutenant James P. Fleming, November 26, 1968 

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facility needed by the United States Air Force to direct �� 

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�� Special �� Forces �� reconnaissance �� team. The Green Berets 

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any military personnel in Laos. In fact, concerned about 

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extra personnel, returned to its base. A second helicopter, 

Determined to eliminate the threat posed by the secret �� 

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Air Force Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony 

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to make another rescue attempt before completely �� 

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and clambered aboard as bullets pierced the air, some 

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fuel tanks nearly empty. For his role in this miraculous 

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at the White House from President Richard M. Nixon on 

May 14, 1970. 21 

Colonel Joe M. Jackson, March 12, 1968 

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Team at Kham Duc, South Vietnam. 

Figure 11: Colonel (ret.) Joe Jackson (right), credit: United 

On that day, an Army Special Forces camp located at 

States Air Force. 

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Colonel William A. Jones III, September 1, 1968 

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on all sides by mountainous terrain. 

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North Vietnam. 

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positions. On one pass, he felt an explosion beneath 

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After he stopped, a rocket fell in front of the transport. A �� 

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that day. 

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States before the Air Force Medal of Honor could be 

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decoration from President Richard M. Nixon at the White 

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Airman 1st Class John L. Levitow, February 24, 1969 

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Figure 12 : Airman 1st Class Levitow, credit: United States 

Air Force. 

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Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger, April 11, 

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1966 

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In October 2000, the posthumous Air Force Cross that 

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1965 and soon had completed 250 missions, i�� 

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and the Republic of Vietnam’s Medal of Military Merit 

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On April 11, 1966, an infantry company of 134 soldiers 

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Figure 13: Pitsenbarger, credit: United States Air Force. 

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helicopters to return. 

�� Figure 14: �� Pitsenbarger �� in para-rescue �� gear, credit: United 

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the fallen. 26 

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in 1974. On March 4, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford 

presented the Air Force Medal of Honor to his parents. 27 

Lieutenant Colonel Leo K. Thorsness, April 19, 1967 

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Captain Lance P. Sijan, November 9, 1967 

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Lance Peter Sijan is the first Air Force Academy �� 

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�� the area. ��Thorsness �� promptly attacked the enemy plane, 

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Vietnamese on Christmas Day 1967. Despite his crippled and then spotted four MiG-17s as he neared the bailout 

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bail out unless their aircraft could be quickly refueled. 

intermittent periods of consciousness until his death, �� 

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from President Nixon in a White House ceremony on 

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October 15, 1973. 

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Figure 15: Then Major Thorsness (left) at Takhli, early 1967, 

credit: United States Air Force. 

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mother. 

Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks, February 24, 1967 

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Air Force Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism 

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Figure 16: Then Colonel Thorsness receives the Medal of Honor from President Nixon, credit: United 

States Air Force. 

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�� 1968. �� 

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Captain Gerald O. Young, November 8-9, 1967 

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heat. When enemy troops approached the crash scene, he 

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Conclusion 

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of the Air Force Medal of Honor. 

Endnotes 

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4. Ibid. 

5. Ibid�� 

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6. Letter (2d Indorsement), from Colonel Russell G. Pankey, Chief, 

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7. Ibid. 

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Medal of Honor, May 4, 1962. 

9. Ibid. 

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Heraldry, September 25, 1962. 

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Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day�� 

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3, 1964. 

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Instruction 36-2803, Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, �� 

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14. Department of Defense Manual 1348.33-V1, Manual of Military 

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Decorations and Awards: General Information, Medal of Honor, �� 

and Defense/Joint Decorations and Awards�� 

15-16. 

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Vietnam, 

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The 

February 2011: 58-59. 

Air Force Cross: A History of Extraordinary Heroism, 2004: 84-85 

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Beyond the Call of Duty: The Story �� 

of an American Hero, 2004. 

asp?dec=&pid=123006524 (Lance Sijan) 

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asp?dec=&pid=123006530 (Hilliard A. Wilbanks) 

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Camplin Museum Press, 1991). See also, Robert Coram, American 

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BOOK REVIEWS 

For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart by �� 

Fred Borch. �� 

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�� excellent �� companion �� piece to his Sea Service Medals 

$34.95. 

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�� For Military �� 

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Merit�� 

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�� The Decorations �� and �� Awards of Audie L. Murphy 

�� and Alvin �� C. York: �� The U.S. Military’s Most Notable 

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Infantryman. 2nd edition, by Eric R. Caubarreaux. 

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years. 

145-384-7497. $26.95. 

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and families. 

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�� complete �� history �� for each man, details on promotions, 

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LONG-SERVICE AWARDS FOR THE ARMED FORCES IN POLAND 

LUKASZ GASZEWSKI 

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�� Figure �� 1: King �� 

Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski 

for a Canadian Forces Decoration after the honorable 

(1732-1898) in coronation attire with the collar 

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sash of the Order of the White Eagle. 

10 years is denoted by a clasp on the ribbon and a 

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ZA / DOSLUZONE / WCIAZ 

forces. 

18 LAT / W IEDNYMZE / REGIMEN- / CIE. (for 18 

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Long Service Awards in Poland in the 18th and 19th �� 

Century 

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only a year after his accession to 

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completed 18 years in the army. On 

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inscription STANISLAW / AUGUST 

/ KROL� �� 

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/ WCIAZ 18 LAT / W IEDNYMZE / 

Figure 2: Medal for 18-Years’ Served (1765) - obverse, reverse for infantry (“corps”), 

CORPU- / SIE�� 

reverse for cavalry (“regiment”), courtesy of the Zbigniew Puchalski archive. 


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CORPUSIE �� 

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KORPUSIE. 

(the ribbon of the Order Virtuti Militari�� 

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is a rarity today. The partition of Poland in 1795 put an �� 

end to its existence. The subsequent era of the Duchy �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

the decoration for 35 years, 28 for 30 years, 42 for 25 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

from its 18th-century predecessor in both form and �� 

�� ceased �� 

to be conferred after the outbreak of a national 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

red-black ribbon of the Russian Order of 

St. Vladimir in 1834. As the army of the 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 3: Decoration for Long Service of the Kingdom of Poland (1829) -‐ for 

XV, XX and XXV years (military), courtesy of the Zbigniew Puchalski archive. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

24 JOMSA

Figure 4: Unique decoration for 50 years awarded to 

Colonel Seydlitz, courtesy of Colonel S. Oberleitner. 

L�� 

Figure 5: Obverse (a) and reverse (b) of the Long Service 

�� 

Medal in gold (2007) and silver and bronze (1938). Note the 

the Order of Virtuti Militari�� 

differences in details of both types (different ribbons and eyes). 

�� 

�� 

placed underneath. 

�� 

�� 

Long Service Awards in an Independent Poland 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Virtuti Militari, �� 

also restored in 1921 and 1919. The third of the former 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

conferred no earlier than sometime in 1948, but by 

honors continued to be established (Cross of Valor in 

�� 

1920, Order of Polonia Restituta in 1921, Cross of Merit 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

(Ag� �� 

as in the case of other orders and decorations, Polish 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� ZA �� 

�� 

Virtuti Militari. 

DLUGOLETNIA SLUZBE� �� 

�� X, XX or �� 

XXX 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 


Figure 6: Gen. Wladyslaw Anders (above), former 

commander of II Polish Corps with an impressive collection 

of ribbons, during the 1969 celebrations of the 25th 

anniversary of the capture of Monte Cassino, Italy. In the 

lower photo ribbons of the Long Service Medals are can 

be seen right under the Monte Cassino Cross. Note the 

incorrect order of wearing: the medal for 10 years comes 

before the medal for 20 years of service. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

armed forces. 

Long Service Awards after World War II 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

interests of the USSR. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Act on National 

Honors�� 

�� 

Virtuti 

Militari, Polonia Restituta, Cross of Valor and Cross of 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

coup d’etat 

�� 

era of a fairly democratic country from the era of an 

�� 

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�� 

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�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� for the �� Country Medal �� (Medal Sily Zbrojne w Sluzbie 

�� 

Ojczyzny)�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

26 JOMSA

Figure 7: Different types of the Armed Forces in Service for the Country 

Medal (left to right): gold for XX years (1968), silver for XV years 

(1960), silver for X years (1951/68), and bronze for V years (1951/68). 

�� 

�� 

�� V, X or XV�� 

�� 

central red shield is 9/16” (14.5 mm) in diameter, the 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

as 1959. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

inscribed SILY ZBROJNE W SLUZBIE OJCZYZNY�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

of Merit and Medals for Merit on the Field of Glory and 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 8: Left: Long Service Decoration of the Volunteer 

Fire Brigade’s Association which may have been the 

prototype of the Armed Forces Medal. Right: Rare gold medal 

for XV years. (1951/59), courtesy Colonel S. Oberleitner. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

for all. By decision of the Minister of National Defense 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 


Figure 9: Different types of ribbon bars: metal ribbon frame 

with plastic or glass cover, borrowed from the Soviet Army 

�� 

1954 (c, d) ribbon bars. Note the lack of gold or silver wire 

denoting the class in (b) and the fact that the Armed Forces 

in Service for the Country Medal ribbons are worn out of 

the correct order of precedence. 

�� 

9 and 10). 

Figure 10: General Stanislaw Poplawski (1902-1973), circa 

�� 

1955 (a) wearing 

�� 

a metal ribbon frame (b). The ribbons 

�� of the silver �� 

and bronze Armed Forces in Service for the 

�� 

�� 

�� 

row. Upper classes are marked with gold or silver foil. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

set of medals is the most popular and most frequently 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

discretion of the Minister of National Defense. Due to 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

XV or XXV) only. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

28 JOMSA

Figure 11: Never conferred gold medal for 

XXV years (1960). 

Figure 12: Unique gold medal for XXX years, 

conferred only once in 1974, courtesy Colonel 

S. Oberleitner. 

�� 

then Minister of National Defense, General Wojciech �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� XXX�� 

�� 

XX�� 

�� 

�� the �� Roman �� numeral �� V�� 

their military career in the People’s Army in 1943 or �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

XXX�� shade of red. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 13: Different details of the bronze medals for V years. (left to right): the 

1951 type, the 1968 type (note a different angle between the arms of “V”),and 

the 1995 type (no Roman numeral and more massive general appearance). 


�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Polish Long Service Awards Today 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

it as a ministry decoration for professional military and 

�� 

�� 

�� Figure 14: �� Unaccepted proposal �� of the Armed Forces in 

�� Service for the �� Country Medal (2006). 

�� 

�� 

�� 

12). Another difference in comparison to the older types �� 

�� 

�� 

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military honors of the country, also reintroduced the 

�� 

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inscription: SILY ZBROJNE / W / SLUZBIE OJCZYZNY / �� 

RZECZPOSPOLITA / POLSKA�� 

�� 

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�� 

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The medal itself looks almost identical to its pre-World 

�� War II counterpart �� (there are some small differences in 

�� 

30 JOMSA

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 15: Long Service Medal hallmarks: (a) 1938 issue, �� 

(b) 2007 issue, (c) “Ag 0,950” on the rim of the silver medal �� 

(1938). 

�� 

Technically, such a situation is possible. Both are 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Minister of Defense). The number of years that must be 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� senior �� counterpart. �� 

cipher MW (Mennica Warszawska�� 

�� 

Ag 0,950 mark �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� The form of �� the decoration �� and the number of years of 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

pieces of metal on a military uniform, in somebody’s 

�� 

collection or in a museum display. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

result from the fact that unlike the Armed Forces medal, Defense and particularly to Colonel Stefan Oberleitner 

�� 

�� been ��possible. �� 

Figure 16: Numerals on Long Service Medal ribbon bars: left two ribbons, 1938 (also used during 

World War II), and right ribbon, current issue. 


ROPE OF COURAGE: 

A BRIEF LOOK AT THE FRENCH FOURRAGÈRE 

GRAHAM WILSON 

A ceremonial item seen on both United States Army and 

United States Marine Corps uniforms is a braided colored 

�� 

around the left shoulder. 1 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

This item is the fourragère�� 

established for the French forces in World War I, and �� 

�� 

�� 

2 �� 

Fourragère�� 

�� 

in the French forces as ceremonial items of dress, some 

not directly related to decorations. The aim of this article, 

�� 

�� 

fourragère that are 

could also be cited in military orders. On April 21, 1916, 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

i.e.�� 

The fourragère itself consists of a braided double rope 

of the Croix de guerre�� 

�� 

fourragère of the Order of the 

�� 

Liberation) in the colors of a particular medal ribbon, 

in the color of the ribbon of the Croix de guerre, i.e. the 

�� 

fourragère. 

�� 

�� 

World War I – Croix de guerre 1914-1918 

the issue of Memorandum No. 2156D. This document 

�� 

The fourragère�� 

�� 

of the creation of the Croix de guerre (War Cross) in 1915. 

so many times that there needed to be a system better 

The Croix de guerre�� 

�� 

fourragère in the colors of the 

�� 

ribbon of the Croix de guerre. To address this issue, 

�� 

the memorandum decreed that for multiple citations, 

�� 

fourragère�� 

Croix de 

Figure 1: The various combinations of World War I fourragère based on the number of citations in Army level orders. 

32 JOMSA

guerre, the Médaille militaire (Military Medal) or the �� 

Légion d’honneur�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

action in the colonies, on April, 30 1921 the French 

Units cited 2-3 times, fourragère in the colors of the �� 

Croix de guerre des 

Croix de guerre�� 

Units cited 4-5 times, fourragère in the colors of the 

Médaille militaire�� 

Théâtres d’Opérations Extérieurs or the Croix de guerre 

TOE (War Cross for External Theatres of Operations). 

Units cited 6-8 times, fourragère in the color of the 

Légion d’honneur (red) 

Units cited 9-11 times, double fourragère in the colors 

of Légion d’honneur and Croix de guerre 


of the Légion d’honneur and Médaille militaire 

�� Croix ��de �� Guerre TOE is identical 

to that of the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 and the same 

�� 

�� 

Croix de Guerre TOE 

�� 

Croix de 

Units cited 15 or more times, double fourragère in the Guerre TOE�� 

color of the Légion d’honneur 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� missions �� to the �� Baltic �� States, Upper Silesia, Poland, 

�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère permanently. �� 

Persons posted into the unit subsequently could and can �� 

�� fourragère�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

One bit of confusion that needs to be cleared up at this 

�� 

fourragère to 

�� 

fourragère 

�� 

�� 

orders, i.e. a fourragère is �� 

�� 


does not mean that the unit has been physically presented 

�� Croix de guerre. Apart from fourragère�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Médaille 

militaire�� 

fourragère. 3 

�� Croix de guerre 1914-1918�� 

for the Croix de guerre TOE�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère of the Croix de guerre TOE�� 

�� 

�� 

that the colors are those of the ribbon of the Croix de 

guerre TOE, i.e.�� 

�� 

�� 

Croix de guerre TOE�� 

Croix de guerre 1914-1918, Memorandum 2504M of 30 

December 1926 authorised fourragère for the Croix de 

guerre TOE�� 

�� 

fourragère �� Units cited 2-3 times, fourragère in the colors of the 

�� 


�� 

Units cited 4-5 times, fourragère in the colors of the 

Medaille militaire �� 

Between and After the World Wars – Croix de 

the Croix de guerre TOE�� 

Units cited 6-8 times, fourragère in the color of the 

guerre TOE 

Légion d’honneur �� 


�� 


�� of Légion �� d’honneur �� and Croix de guerre TOE 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� the �� fourragère of the �� 

Croix de guerre TOE, but also on the 

�� 

Croix de guerre 1939�� 

�� 

�� 

Croix de guerre 1914-1918 to 


�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère 

�� 

�� 

cord of a fourragère. When the fourragère for the Croix �� 

de guerre TOE�� 

�� 

fourragère of the Croix de 

World War II – Croix de guerre 1939 

guerre 1914-1918 from one of the Croix de guerre TOE 

�� 

�� 

�� 


Croix 


de guerre 1939� �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� fourragère in the colors �� 

of the Croix de guerre TOE and a fourragère in the color �� 

of the Légion d’honneur�� 

�� 

Croix de guerre TOE authorised for a unit cited 6-8 times. �� 

�� 

fourragère �� France. In 1945, in Ministry of War Memorandum 

No. 5.760 Cab:Mil:Dec of April 20, 1945, the French 

�� 

fourragère for World War II, 

�� 

Croix 

de guerre 1914-1918�� 

�� 


�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère for World War II 

�� fourragère of the Croix de guerre 1914- 

1918�� 

the Croix de guerre 1939-45, the Medaille militaire and 

the Légion d’honneur �� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère for World War 

�� 

�� 

fourragère in 

�� 

4 

�� 

Figure 3: Basic fourragère in the colors of the Croix de 

guerre TOE and the Légion d’honneur. 

Figure 2: Types of ‘olives’ for the fourragère 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. 

The appendix to Memorandum 5.760 Cab:Mil:Dec 

�� 

�� 

�� 


�� 

fourragère of the 

34 JOMSA

Mèdaille militaire��l’Ordre 

de la Libération 

of the fourragère for both the Croix de guerre and the 

The last and latest fourragère to be created and conferred 

Mèdaille militaire in World War I and the Croix de guerre 

is that of l’Ordre de la Libération (the Order of the 

�� 

fourragère of the Legion d’honneur 

�� 

�� 

�� fourragère for the Croix de guerre and 

�� 

Legion d’honneur in World War War One and fourragère 

�� 

for the Croix de guerre, Mèdaille militaire and Legion 

�� 

d’honneur�� 

�� 

the fourragère �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

in the nature of the deeds, apart from their exceptional 

�� 

Liberation (Compagnon de la Libération) and General 

de Gaulle, the founder of the Order, has been the only 

Grand Maître (Grand Master) of the Order. 

Figure 4: Fourragère with various ‘olives’. 

�� 

immediately after the Légion d’honneur, and perhaps the 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

l’Ordre de la Libération, 

namely: 

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 35 

Army 

Battailon de marche n°2 

13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère 

�� 

Régiment de marche du Tchad 

2e Régiment d’infanterie coloniale 

1er Régiment d’artillerie coloniale 

1/3e Régiment d’artillerie coloniale 

1er Régiment de marche de spahis marocains

501e Régiment de chars de combat 

Air Force 

1ére Escadrille de chasse 

Régiment de chasse ‘Normandie-Niemen’ 

2e Régiment de chasseurs parachutistes de l’Armée 

de l’air 

Groupe de bombardement ‘Lorraine’ 

Groupe de chasse ‘Ile-de-France’ 

Groupe de chasse ‘Alsace’ 

Navy 

Sous-marin Rubis 

Corvette Aconit 

1er Régiment des fusiliers marins 

Communities 

Grenoble 

Nantes 

Paris 

Vassieux-en-Vercors 

Figure 5: Fourragère of l’Ordre de la Libération. 

Île de Sein 

�� 

By a decree of February 23, 1996, the Minister for �� 


Defense of the French Republic created a fourragère posted to the unit. The rules for the fourragère 1914for 

l’Ordre de la Libération�� 

1918 �� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère 

place in France�� 

parade at Mont Valérien, the President of the Republic �� 

presented the fourragère of l’Ordre de la Libération to fourragère�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 


�� 

fourragère. 

to be a member of the unit. On transfer from the decorated 

�� 

fourragère 

Visually, the fourragère of l’Ordre de la Libération �� 

differs markedly from the other fourragère discussed in �� 

�� 

in such cases the fourragère �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère for both the Croix de 

�� 

guerre TOE and Croix de guerre 1939. �� 

the Order. The fourragère of l’Ordre de la Libération is a fourragère for the Croix de guerre 1914-1918�� 

�� 

number 85�� 

�� 


Entitlement to Permanent Wear 

�� 85e Régiment d’infanterie. The rather 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� fourragère to a unit is permanent to the unit, 

�� Aiguillettes 

�� 

�� 

fourragère �� 

36 JOMSA

Figure 6: Fourragère for the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 

�� 

. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

fourragère for 

the Croix de guerre, Mèdaille militaire, Legion d’honneur 

and Croix de guerre TOE� �� Figure �� 8: Fourragère for the Croix de guerre 1914- 

�� 

1918 with the insignia of the French Artillery. 

�� 

�� 

Super Fourragère – 3e REI and RICM 

�� 

�� 

fourragère for 

While a number of units of the French Armed Forces are 

the Croix de guerre 1914-1918�� 

entitled to more than one fourragère�� 

�� 

�� 

3e Régiment étrangère 

�� 

d’infanterie�� 

and the Régiment d’infanterie-chars de 

marine (RICM or Marine Armoured 

�� 

fourragère �� 

�� 

�� 

the 3e REI, circa 1980. Both the 3e REI 

and RICM�� 

fourragère 

in the colors of Légion d’honneur and 


�� fourragère of the Légion 

d’honneur�� 

to 11 citations in World War I and upper 

�� 

�� 

fourragère in the colors 

of the Mèdaille militaire�� 

in the colors of the Croix de guerre TOE, 

�� 

Figure 7: Fourragère for the Croix de guerre, Mèdaille militaire, Legion d’honneur �� 

and Croix de guerre TOE with aiguillettes in gilt and silver. 

�� 

REI 


Endnotes 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� fourragère�� 

fourrage’, 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Medaille militaire�� 

French units: 

February 1918: Battailons Chasseurs à pied. 

�� 3e Régiment de marche de zouaves ;; 2e Régiment 

de marche de tirailleurs ;; Régiment d’infanterie coloniale 

du Maroc 

�� 1er Régiment de marche de la Légion étrangère, 

December 1983: 3e Compagnie du 1er Régiment de chasseurs 

parachutistes 

�� le Centre d’Instruction Naval (CIN) de Saint- 

Mandrier;; l’École nationale des 

Sous-officiers d’Active de Saint-Maixent;; l’École de 

Gendarmerie de Chaumont;; l’École de Formation des Sous- 

�� 

�� 3e Régiment ��étranger �� 

d’infanterie (3e REI), inheritor of the traditions of the 1er 

Figure 9: The winter uniform jacket of a Corporal of the 3e 

�� 

�� fourragère of the Médaille militaire�� 

REI, circa 1980 with a triple fourragère. 

the Médaille militaire�� 

4. Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de Guerre 1939 do exist (red 

�� 

inherited the honors of the World War I Régiment de 

�� 

marche de la Légion étrangère or RLEM� �� 5. 

Besides the triple fourragère�� 

3e 

REI�� 

the 3e REI�� 

the Légion d’honneur 

part, the RICM inherited the honors of former Régiment 

the Médaille militaire 

d’infanterie coloniale du Maroc. At the time of Moroccan 



�� 


lose the honors and traditions of the RICM and in order 

the �� 

�� 

� �� 

the Spanish Médaille des volontaires Catalans 

and renamed it Régiment d’infanterie-chars de marine to 

the streamer of the United States Presidential Unit Citation 

enable the title RICM to continue on and to ensure that 

the Médaille de vermeil du Centre national d’études spatiales 

�� 

de Kourou 

6. Besides the triple fourragère�� 

RICM, 

French Army did not die out. 

�� 

the Légion d’honneur 

Conclusion 

the Médaille militaire 



Fourragère� �� 


�� 

� �� 

of units of the United States Army and United States 

the �� 

�� the �� streamer �� of the �� 

United States Presidential Unit Citation 


Bibliography 

�� 

Koundakjian, Vicken (editor). Laws and Regulations Pertaining to the 

make sense of the subject. 

French Croix de Guerre (OMSA Monograph No.7). Glassboro, 

�� 

E�� 

Order of the Liberation (France), l’Ordre de la Libération �� 

La Marque du courage, all items illustrated are from the 

ordredelaliberation.fr, 2001. 

Service Historique de la Défense. La Marque du courage. Paris : 

author’s collection. 

Éditions LBM, 2005. 

38 JOMSA

ITALIAN RED CROSS MEDAL FOR IRAQ 

EDWARD J. EMERING 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Ministry of Health in Medical City. The elite medical 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), but 

�� 

�� 

compound and the ICRC Headquarters. In addition to the 

�� 

�� 

In addition, the Italian Red Cross offered humanitarian 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 1: Obverse of the Italian Red Cross 

Medal for Iraq. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� OPERAZIONE �� IRAQ and 2003 2006�� 

�� 

contains a circular framed Greek cross surrounded by the 

�� 

CROCE ROSSA ITALIANA (ITALIAN 

In a deal purportedly brokered by Italian Red Cross RED CROSS �� . 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

in a jeep and an ambulance so they could be treated 

for injuries sustained in combat. Three of the four had 

�� 

�� 

but had been told about it. 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Figure 2: Reverse of the Italian Red Cross 

�� Medal 

for Iraq. 


Continued from page 22: 

�� 

an Army motion picture called The Broken Bridge), and 

soldier. The book contains the complete citations for �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

medals are not. This means that details on Murphy’s �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

member. 

this book. Similarly, the citation for York’s Croix de 

Guerre�� 

�� 

40 JOMSA


42 JOMSA

SECRETARY’S REPORT 

December-January 

Those listed as new members have applied for 2010-11 membership in the Orders and Medals Society of America. If no proper written 

objection to such membership is received from any member in good standing within sixty (60) days of publication, the applicant 

shall be admitted to membership (Article III, Section 3 of the OMSA Constitution, and Article III, Section 2 of the OMSA By-Laws). 

The collecting interests of each new member as provided on the membership application follow each new member’s address. 

NEW MEMBERS – 2011 

#8094 Harry M. Jones (Internet) 5442Mount Corcoran Pl, Burke, VA 22015 

#8095 Vincent Guerrin (Gift) 249 5 th �� 

#8096 Monica Aschenbrenner (Internet) �� 

#8097 Philip Foster (Internet) �� 

#8098 Michael R. Hetzler (Internet) 70 Merion Circle, Pinehurst, NC 28374 

#8099 Kent Theurich (Internet)�� 

#8100 David Rogers II (Internet) 516 Main St. Harmony, PA 16037 

ADDRESS CHANGES & CORRECTIONS 

Braun, F. Carl #7027, PO Box 520786, ANNDEX AMP727, Miami, FL 33152 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Willemsen, Thomas LM37, 2200 Eastbay Dr., Apt #67, Daphne, AL 36526 

End of Report Clyde L. Tinklepaugh, Jr. Secretary 

PURCHASE OMSA BADGES 

AND MEDALS 

FULL-SIZE OR MINIATURE 

CONTACT: 

CLYDE L. TINKLEPAUGH, JR, 

OMSA SECRETARY 

PO BOX 540 

CLAYMONT, DE 19703-0540 


COLLECTORS’ MARKETPLACE 

Please Note: Price Decrease. All Future Collectors’ Marketplace Ads Now $10.00. 

OMSA members can place a classified advertisement for $10.00 per 

each six-line unit or fraction thereof with a limit of twelve lines. Ads 

over twelve lines will be computed at display ad rates. Send advertising 

copy directly to the Advertising Manager no later than 45 days prior 

to the first day of the month of the two-month date of the issue. For 

example, advertising for the May-June issue is due at the Advertising 

Manager by the 15th of March. The Journal is mailed on the 15th day 

of the first month of each bimonthly issue, i.e. on 15 January for the 

January-February issue, etc. Please consider this mailing schedule 

when placing any time-sensitive advertising. Please forward ad copy 

and payment directly to: OMSA Ad Manager: Melvin D. Mueller, 

1350 Scorpious Court, Merritt Island, FL 32953-3131 

NOTICE: OMSA policy states that it is unethical to reproduce or 

knowingly sell or trade reproductions, copies, or fakes of orders, 

decorations, or medals unless they are clearly identified as such. 

Moreover, any person who purchases an order, decoration, or medal 

in response to an advertisement in the Journal may return it for a full 

the refund with 45 days from the date of purchace upon presentation 

to the advertiser of a reasonable claim that the item was not as stated 

in the advertisement. 

Wanted For Personal Collection: Panama Canal Service Medal, 

STATE MEDALS FOR WAR SERVICE – REVISED 

EDITION�� 

�� 

by 47 states and territories. 

�� 

�� 

New Book—FOR MILITARY MERIT: Recipients Of 

The Purple Heart. �� 

�� 

�� 

22903 �� 

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“Semper Paratus: Honors the U.S. Coast Guard in 

World War II”�� 

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corrections. Spiral-bound, $25.00 postpaid. Dean S. 

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44 JOMSA


Buying & Selling 

Campaign and Gallantry Medals 

British and Foreign Militaria. 

N13-14 Antiquarius 

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Chelsea, London 

SW3 4PW 

Tel/fax: +44 (0)207 352 0308 

email: richard@chelseamilitaria.com 

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46 JOMSA


48 JOMSA


50 JOMSA

Available to OMSA Members 

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The Decorations and Medals of the 

Peacekeeping in the Balkans 1992-2005 

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Pictures of all nation’s medals 

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$46.00 (members $42.50) 


52 JOMSA


54 JOMSA

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) - Orders and Medals Society of ...

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