The Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal was established in 1976 by Admiral Owen W. Siler, USCG and is awarded to any member of the United States Coast Guard who performs twenty one days of consecutive duty afloat or ashore north of the Arctic Circle. The medal depicts a polar bear under the North Star, while the reverse side carries the Coast Guard Shield.
This medal was created in 1947 to recognise those servicemen who served for an extended period in the Berlin Airlift.
This medal is unique as it is the only medal in the world awarded for participation in a nuclear clean up. The very first people to go to the nuclear hell were firefighters – they did not know about the danger and were told the radiation leak was minimal. They did not have any special protective clothing, only light gas masks. Many of them are already dead, and many are dying a slow and painful death.
Initially, the decision was to withhold information from the people. First responders were awarded regular Firefighter’s Bravery medals. The disaster happened just before the regular 1st of May parade and thousands of people went out parading and breathing radioactive dust, instead of staying home. Many Russians view this as yet another crime by the Party elite against the Soviet people.
Only after the wind blew the nuclear dust across the border were serious measures taken and special army units sent in.
When the medal was instituted, it was awarded to everyone who paid with their lives and health for criminal stupidity and mistakes.
The Order of the Badge of Honour (Russian: Орден “Знак Почёта”) was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was instituted on 25 November 1935 and conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in production, scientific research and social, cultural and other forms of social activity, for promotion of economic, scientific, technological, cultural and other ties between the USSR and other countries and also for significant contribution to basic and applied research. This one is numbered 1248238.
(Russian: Орден “Материнская слава”) was a Soviet civilian award created on 8 July 1944 by Joseph Stalin. The 3rd class as here was awarded to women who successfully raised 7 children. Get that for me Deirdre.This one is numbered 2716656. Since only 2,786,000 of these were awarded, this is obviously a late award.
This Thailand medal is issued to all border troops and customs agents for service. It is identical to the one issued in WW2 although I think this is a 1956 issue. I can’t speak Thai so god only knows what it says.
This medal, disparagingly referred to as “The Pizza Pie” was issued to all NATO troops involved in the Bosnian War. The medals that Nato issues are all superficially similar, only the bar changes.
This medal was created by the independent rump state of Slovakia formed after the dismantling of Czechosovakia for members of the Slovakian Federation of Volunteer Combatants of 1918-38.
This medal is from the Saddam Hussein regime and was awarded to all personnel involved in the invasion of Kuwait and the Coalition battles in the year after.
This is the Indonesian Guerrilla Star awarded to all those who fought in the War of Independence from the Dutch, 1945-1949.
Instituted on 14 September 1945, this order was awarded for services in connection with the 9 September 1944 uprising, for outstanding services in the establishment of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, and for bravery in action by officers and leaders of the People’s Army. Two divisions were created, a Military and a Civil Division, each having three classes. The Military Division can be recognized by its insignia having crossed swords. Two types of the order exist : a screw-back type and a ribboned one. The central medallion depicts a Bulgarian patriot, Vasil Levski.
Instituted on 14 September 1945, this order was awarded for services in connection with the 9 September 1944 uprising, for outstanding services in the establishment of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, and for bravery in action by officers and leaders of the People’s Army. Two divisions were created, a Military and a Civil Division, each having three classes. The Military Division can be recognized by its insignia having crossed swords. Two types of the order exist : a screw-back type and a ribboned one. The central medallion depicts a Bulgarian patriot, Vasil Levski.
To commemorate the coup whereby the Ba’ath party took control, 8 March 1963, to all members of the Syrian armed forces serving on 9 March 1963 or recalled during the following 2 years.
This Syrian medal was awarded for valour and service in the conflict with Israel, 1948-49.
This Syrian medal was awarded to all members of the Armed Forces serving on 1 August 1971 to mark the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Syrian Army.
This Syrian medal is awarded for acts of bravery or excellence not deserving the Order of Bravery.
This is a long service medal for the Syrian state. It can be awarded to both civil servants as well as armed forces.
This is a wound medal, awarded to anyone wounded in the service of the Syrian state.
This is a Syrian medal awarded for courageous acts. The star device is for an officer award. THe other example is for NCO’s or other ranks.
The Philippine Independence Medal was created to recognize those members of the military who had participated in multiple Philippine military operations during the years of the Second World War. It was instituted in 1946.
This Polish medal was instituted in 1944 and was used to recognise those pro-communist forces who helped secure Poland and push it into the Soviet sphere during the period of anarchy after the Germans left. The enemy in this case was primarily the London Government-in-exile and the Home Army.
This Polish medal was a state award for services. The PRL in the centre indicates that this is a WW2 award. This is the 3rd Class award in Bronze.
This medal was originally instituted in 1921 and then renewed in 1944 by the National Polish Liberation Committee. It was awarded for outstanding civilian acts as well as acts of bravery.
This is the Khrueang Ratcha Itsariyaphon An Pen Thi Choet Chu Ying Chang Phueak or The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, 7th Class. It’s a Thailand order that is the most awarded in the country. In Thai the name is เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือก. Ha. Say that out loud!
This medal was awarded by the Netherlands to those military personnell who served in the conflict of New Guinea in the period 1961-1962. The medal was awarded to military personel serving for at least three months in this confrontation with Indonesia. On the ribbon a clasp can be worn with the year 1962 on it. It indicates that bearer has been involved in actual combat in 1962.
Kiwi Medals 