A friend of mine in his early 80's who has known me since he was 70 asked me for a favor. Since he knew I collected medals he asked me if I could help him locate his. When he got out of WW2 (having served in the China, Burma, India theatre) he sold his uniform to goodwill and headed home. He didn't want his decorations, he wanted to return home and put the war behind him.
I located his record and assembled his medals. Several other friends pitched in to help me pay for the effort. Here are Ernie's medals given to him 50 years after he served.

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

Wow. Good job! I am sure he will appreciate the efforts put into this. Job well done.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Thumbs up for that one! Excellent effort. Good on ya that you have been able and willing to help a vet out like that!

Has been quite a war for your friend, there!

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

(banner by Otto)
www.basher82.nl

This is only the tip of the iceberg, of what Gary has--wait till he posts other mounted stuff.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

HI Mott: Nice job, I did one like that for my grandfather.

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The soldier above all others prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. General Douglas Macarthur

Its going to be VERY expensive but, I think I just might do that with each of my German Ribbon Bars (the cheaper ones of course)

Thanks for the idea Gary. Now that give my collecting a direction I can take it to. Hmmmmmm.

[ 19 September 2002, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

WOW!!! I think he must have appreciated it quite a lot, as we also appreciate you for sharing that info and pics with us! Thanks!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Another soldier whom I have had the honor of meeting is David "Tex" Hill, famous Flying Tiger Ace. I researched his career and discovered the awards he earned over his military career. I have assembled a set for my own display of most of "Tex" Hill's medals. I'm missing 4 Chinese medals and one French one. This is a work in progress to honor the man himself. I hope you like my concept. I'm kinda really into this WW2 history stuff. Go figure, huh? Aren't we all?

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

Really nice, Gary! Thanks for sharing! That is a really good collection! Would you mind to list the decorations, so we ignorants could learn a bit?

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Another great set-up Gary--I hadnt seen this one yet.

By the way, David Lee "Tex" Hill was also the squadron Leader for the 2nd Flying Tigers Squadron known as: "The Panda Bears"

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I really appreciate the nice words, especially from other history buffs like me.

Tex' Hills medals are l-r
Silver Star, Legion of Merit,Distinguished Flying Cross, Good Conduct, Air War Medal, American Defense, American Theatre, Asia-Pacific Theatre, WW2 Victory, British Distinguished Flying Cross, Chinese War Combat Service.

Col. Hill was given the British DFC by Lord Mountbatten himself. I have yet to find out about the Chinese medals. I do know that there are 5 of them. What order, degree, and times earned is still a mystery but my research continues.

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

Quite welcome--just keep posting stuff will you.

Also and this is especially For Timo, PzJgr and Erich--can you post pics of my Waffen SS shoulderboards? and my SS Sturmbrigade Langemarck and SS Nordland Collar Tabs--they will appreciate those very much. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Mott,

It is a great thing you did for those vets, I'm sure they appreciate your excellent work. I have always had the utmost respect and reverence for war veterans, and your montages are a fitting affirmation of their sacrifice.

If you have any more please post them.

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WWII Forums Rogues Gallery - send in your photo!
Comments, questions or feedback? Contact me at

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." Socrates

I second the motion and believe me Otto--he does have more. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Wow! Still quite impressed! Thanks Gary! Now I am less ignorant! And by the way, the American DFC is very ugly in comparisson to the British one. I hope Martin supports me on this... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

I found this grouping at an Estate Sale, or should I day a friend did. He purchased this for a few bucks and gave it to me. I am still trying to find out who the original owner was so I can put together a case of this man's military career. For what ever reason, which I can't understand, the family or Exec. of the estate never returned my calls. Anyway, we can only wonder.

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

This is another group in progress with a sad story. Another friend whose Dad was a WWII vet passed away. He was sick to find out what his older sister did. Are you ready for this? The older sister took it upon herself to divide her fathers' medals! She took the bars and ribbons apart and gave a medal here and there to various friends and family members. We are missing many awards, but so far here is what was retreived from a few family members. One grandson took the dress sword and the dress formal whites to college to decorate his dorm room. Within a month they got away from him, gone for ever now. What a damn shame, huh? Here is what we've gotten back so far.


[ 28 September 2002, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: mott5ranch ]

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

All I can say is that the older sister was a BLOODY idiot!! as well as the collage idiot

I went through something VERY similar with my Opas Naval Officers Jacket--his medals and ribbon bar awards cards--my fathers Airforce tunics etc.

My oldest brother tried to throw away my dads ww2 G.I. helmet--it was lucky that I just happened to have looked in the outdoors big trash dumpster because I was walking by and saw a cat jump into it. I looked in it and moved some stuff around with a piece of wood--and what did I see? I saw my dads helmet and web belt in the dumpster--BOY I WAS FURIOUS!!!!!!

I of course rescued all the items I found--which to my extreme rage--also included all of my Opas medals--and jacket. Thinking about that still enrages me GRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrr...........

Luckily today--all items are perfectly preserved and are permanently safe.

[ 29 September 2002, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Actually, I have just remembered that I do own another piece of militaria beside of my pistol. It is a French helmet, probably from WWII. It was stoked in an old room in some of my friends' house. He said it was trash and that I could take it if I liked it. I didn't hesitate and took it! I pulished it and now it is quite beautiful, but still have to investigate if it is French and if it is from WWII. Let's remember that those kind of helmets were used by many countries in many times...

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Not to worry--Frainch Adrian Helmets are pretty easy to I.D. as well as Belgian etc. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

My friend, the veteran who's medals started this thread passed away last month.

Ernesto Ramirez Briones was a quiet man who did his duty and returned home to settle down and raise a family. Like so many vetrans of that era, he did his duty and was quite embarrassed when anyone made any mention of it. He used to say, "The real heros didn't come home. Battle is nothing more than mass confusion. The lucky devils like me came home. The good men didn't."

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Beer, it's not just for breakfast!

Sorry to hear that Mott. Our condolences to your friend and his family.

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.