View Full Version : Most Impressive Military Decoration Ever...?
In terms of what it represents probably nothing is more impressive than the Medal of Honor.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Medalsofhonor2.jpg
While a bit more pedestrian (at least in terms of being awarded) I personally find the Purple Heart to be visually stunning.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Purpleheart.jpg
And while technically not a decoration but an order, my personal favorite is probably the Pour le Mérite (aka The Blue Max).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Blue_Max.jpg
And of course when it comes to firearms, uniforms and decorations you really have to give credit to Nazi Germany.
The Iron Cross came in a variety of designs and graduations over the years up to the Knights Cross.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/IK_1813.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/IC1870.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Iron_Cross_-_2nd_Class.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Knight%27s_Cross.jpg
But somehow even the Knights Cross seems somewhat unimpressive when compared to the Knight's Cross Of The Iron Cross With Golden Oak Leaves Swords And Diamonds awarded to Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Knight%27sCrossOfTheIronCrossWithGoldenOakleavesSwordsAndDiamonds.jpg
The Japanese has some visually stunning chest badges as well. And of course the Russians have a wide variety to choose from, certainly too many to list here.
The Navy Achievment Medal (NAM) was always my favorite (it is also the highest medal I ever received). :D
I have always thought the USN Cross was cool.
C4
NAM
http://www.swiftboats.net/images/nmcam.jpg
Navy Cross
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Navycross.jpg/300px-Navycross.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Navycross2.jpg
theblackknight
12-18-11, 19:47
Sadly now adays, the nam is literally handed out like candy.
Mil freefall device looks pretty sweet. Dist. Marksman badge slook bomb in a service uniform.
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Iraq Ninja
12-18-11, 20:06
All emotions aside, I think the Victoria's Cross is mighty fine, considered what it is made of and how hard it is to earn. Only one Yank has ever earned one... the Unknown Soldier.
All emotions aside, I think the Victoria's Cross is mighty fine, considered what it is made of and how hard it is to earn. Only one Yank has ever earned one... the Unknown Soldier.
Interesting...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria%27s_Cross
LowSpeed_HighDrag
12-18-11, 20:49
As far as looks go, the Legion of Merit is pretty snazzy.
I'll agree that NAM's are handed out in too many sitautions, but NAM's with V devices are impressive still. Although the NatDef is "the firewatch" ribbon, it still says quite a bit about the generation's that recieved it.
I dont have anything impressive on my chest, a few campaign ribbons, some personal ribbons, and some unit ribbons. Hell, the hardest to get and keep was the Good Cookie haha.
And of course, the MOH is the top dog, and I have respect for all who have earned it, and for those who deserve it but never got one. To anyone who does or did more than I do, thanks for your service!
Reagans Rascals
12-18-11, 20:56
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_War_Medal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Infantryman_Badge
the problem with awarding the MOH.... is someone has to be left to write it up... often times no one is left to tell the tale of the valor and sacrifice that transpired
of course seeing this one around now a days will make you stand up a little straighter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_insignia
As far as looks go, the Legion of Merit is pretty snazzy.
Actually that is quite impressive.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Legionnaire_of_the_Legion_of_Merit.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_War_Medal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Infantryman_Badge
the problem with awarding the MOH.... is someone has to be left to write it up... often times no one is left to tell the tale of the valor and sacrifice that transpired
of course seeing this one around now a days will make you stand up a little straighter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_insignia
I almost mentioned the CIB. Completely agree about the MOH thing. Probably hundreds of them "earned" that we'll never know about.
Iraq Ninja
12-18-11, 21:43
Small things mean more, such as the V device.
I have seen too many bronze stars and one silver star passed out for "doing a great job on the FOB" to respect it without the V...
decodeddiesel
12-18-11, 22:07
Small things mean more, such as the V device.
I have seen too many bronze stars and one silver star passed out for "doing a great job on the FOB" to respect it without the V...
Hit the nail on the head.
That said I think the Silver Star really is a nice looking device.
All emotions aside, I think the Victoria's Cross is mighty fine, considered what it is made of and how hard it is to earn. Only one Yank has ever earned one... the Unknown Soldier.
Actually, according to this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Victoria_Cross_recipients_by_nationality
there are 5 recipients listed who are listed as "American", though all were serving in Canadian military units or on a RN ship.
This is interesting (from the link SteyrAUG listed on the VC):
New Zealand Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg has the distinction of being the only serviceman ever awarded a VC on evidence solely provided by the enemy, for an action in which there were no surviving Allied witnesses.The recommendation was made by the captain of the German U-boat U-468 sunk by Trigg's aircraft.
Small things mean more, such as the V device.
I have seen too many bronze stars and one silver star passed out for "doing a great job on the FOB" to respect it without the V...
I think most people know that and appreciate the difference. My Grandfather had 8 bronze stars but most were for campaigns and things like that. None had a V.
Highest decoration he received for actions was the Air Medal (probably related to the Ploesti raid), which is actually pretty neat looking too. But I may be biased.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Air_Medal_front.jpg
I also thought the Legion of Merit was the nicest looking medal when I was in.
I'm going with any of the EARNED berets in the U.S. Military.
I had read recently that there was a pust to bring back the Iron Cross in the Bundeswehr. Naturally there is a huge push back.:rolleyes: ridiculous, since the Iron Cross pre-dates the rise of the Nazi Party.
Interestingly it was mentioned that the Bundeswehr had no current decorations for gallantry in combat.
Magic_Salad0892
12-19-11, 03:30
Coolest Military Decoration?
The Green Beret.
Or the MoH.
Also... what is the British equivilent? I forgot what it's called. Royal Cross?
Highest military decoration in the Soviet Union
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/military_photos/orders-medals-badges-other-decorations/261439d1320591220-hero-soviet-union-guards-major-general-vekhin-gouden_ster-medaille_4832_v.jpg
Almost seems like a joke compared to the others lol
Sadly now adays, the nam is literally handed out like candy.
Mil freefall device looks pretty sweet. Dist. Marksman badge slook bomb in a service uniform.
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That is to bad. In the 90's (when I got my NAM), you had to actually do something of merit to receive it. I spent 3 years at my command and never saw another Direct Support Cryptologist receive one.
C4
I think one of the highest military decorations one can achieve is respect of ones peers.
.....story time-ish.....
My father was a fighter pilot for many years, before that he sat alert as a nav/bombnav in B-52's at Barksdale, LA. After that, F-111's at Upper Heyford, UK as part of Warsaw Pact central heating. He may or may not have gone downtown in Libya....the first time. Apparently there's enough classified info surrounding it that he can't talk about. I'm sure real info is public domain but he refuses and I don't want to delve. During the first Gulf War, he dropped a single live GBU-28 Paveway III in the deserts of Nevada as a test pilot. This was after turning down the job as the squadron commander of the first F-117 operational unit. He wanted to spend time with his family (me and my mother). Shortly thereafter an F-15 dropped the first operational "bunker buster" in downtown Iraq to great effect, albeit a rather black eye for the US as it was a bunker Saddam had packed full of civilians apparently. He was the last pilot to do fully operational testing before it was used in-theatre. His recommendation was the final check mark on making the weapon operational. After, he became an A-10 pilot, he specialized in CSAR, close air support, was instrumental in getting all the O/A-10's NV capable. He was a squadron commander both stateside as well as SW Asia. He was shot at on a regular basis by surface-to-air missiles, AA guns, etc. He owned Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait for a while. He turned down a 6 figure job with the Kuwaiti's because he didn't want to move us over there. He became commander of a Combat Operations Squadron at DM, then XO of the wing at Eielson AFB in Alaska. He was instrumental in developing the 12th AF Combined Air Operations Center at DMAFB. It coordinates all of USSOUTHCOM operations (for the most part). When Haiti kicked off he was there running around with the go fast guys as the top AF guy. He refuses to talk about what he saw. From what little I know of what happened outside of the airport I won't ask. He speaks rather highly his French counterpart, I was surprised. The AF had to pay for knee surgery because of whatever damage he sustained there. I still don't ask how he got hurt. He retired to ride his motorcycles and substitute teaches elementary school.
Suffice it to say, my father is my hero. I know what he's accomplished, more so by what he won't talk about than what he will. During this time he sat on several important commendation recommendation boards. The thing that gets me about this conversation, was something I overheard one day. He just recently became more training/prepping minded. I wrangled him into a local pistol class here in AZ. The instructor is a former Army helo enlisted guy and they started talking a little shop. I'm paraphrasing here but basically what I overhead:
"While I sat on the board we saw a bunch of guys from Iraq and Afghanistan. We were able to direct the order of recommendations we received because of our rank (he retired as a full colonel). After we had made our decisions, we wrote up an overall recommendation for how further commendation processes should proceed. Our recommendation was to review all of the lesser recommendations for commendation first, because after what we saw the FAC's and STS and PJ's did, we would rarely be able to justify approving lesser commendations. In every case dealing with those guys, we bumped up the level of commendation because of the understatement of their actions. Those guys did incredible things, and we'll never be able to give them the credit they really deserve."
When I heard that my heart stopped. Here's someone who has several of the medals already listed in this thread (and many of the additions to those medals), a pretty excellent career in his own right (although I feel like I've understated it), saying that they were giving medals to guys who accomplishments were so great that lesser commendations could barely be considered. That level of respect seems pretty awesome to me. From what I've heard from others who know him, he is a warrior. Though different from the guy with their boots in the dirt, his contributions haven't been any less valid. The amount of respect he has for those other warriors really does speak volumes to their accomplishments, and I don't think any dangly piece of metal will ever adequately state what they have accomplished.
Flame me if you will for not having first hand information. This is just one guys opinion based on observation from the outside looking in.
The ARFcom Challenge coin is pretty prestigious! :cool:
I had read recently that there was a pust to bring back the Iron Cross in the Bundeswehr. Naturally there is a huge push back.:rolleyes: ridiculous, since the Iron Cross pre-dates the rise of the Nazi Party.
Interestingly it was mentioned that the Bundeswehr had no current decorations for gallantry in combat.
The swastika also predates Nazi Germany by centuries and is of Hindu/Buddhist origin, but the reality is so many things have been tainted by Nazi association that will always be their association regardless of logic. I swear if you pointed out the Nazis breathed oxygen some folks would start holding their breath.
Looks like the Bundeswehr has an Honor Cross but I can't find too many specific details about it.
The ARFcom Challenge coin is pretty prestigious! :cool:
Hahahaha :D
I've always had an appreciation for the Navy Cross.
It's true, Grant, everyone has a NAM these days. It's too bad...
The swastika also predates Nazi Germany by centuries and is of Hindu/Buddhist origin,
It probably has multiple origins. But you are right. We went to a big buddhist temple in Tokyo (the one at Azakuza) this September and there were swastika all over. At least on maps in Japan, a swastika is used to denote where a temple or shrine is located.
The buddhist swastika is a reverse of the traditional nazi one, and is level (not 45 deg). It is similar to the one you see on Finnish planes and tanks from the Winter War/WW2.
but the reality is so many things have been tainted by Nazi association that will always be their association regardless of logic. I swear if you pointed out the Nazis breathed oxygen some folks would start holding their breath.
Looks like the Bundeswehr has an Honor Cross but I can't find too many specific details about it.
For people wanting to see it and read about the Ehrenkreuz (Honor Cross)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_cross#German_Military_Decoration
I've always had an appreciation for the Navy Cross.
It's true, Grant, everyone has a NAM these days. It's too bad...
What a shame. When I would see a junior enlisted guy with one, the first thought that occured to me is that they either saved someones life, killed a bunch of people or save the USN a lot of money. I was an E-4 when I got mine and do not think any other E-4's at my command had one.
C4
Got to meet Col. Mitchell Paige (MOH, Guadacanal) and hear him speak years back. That medal against his blue suit was the most impressive thing I have ever seen, bar none. Incredible.
sniperfrog
12-19-11, 16:52
Coolest Military Decoration?
The Green Beret.
Not sure if this is still the case but for awhile any support person at an SF group got to wear a green beret too. I knew alot of SF guys that were kinda pissed about that. Nothing like seeing some pregnant admin chick wearing a green beret to really kill it for you.
The buddhist swastika is a reverse of the traditional nazi one, and is level (not 45 deg). It is similar to the one you see on Finnish planes and tanks from the Winter War/WW2.
Not always. The swastika is associated mostly with Ch'an Buddhism (Zen in Japanese) and Shorinji schools of martial arts. It is found in both the reversed and non reversed position but since 1945 is usually found in the reversed position for obvious reasons of disassociation. Several other cultures such as native Americans developed the symbol independently as well.
In Hindu use, which is the specific origin of Nazi symbolism including ideas such as "aryans" it is often found on it's axis in both positions because it is a symbol of things in "flux" and representative of the Ignatius Loyola Donnelly constant state of change of the universe.
It was 19th century Russian mystic Madam Blavatsky who first distorted Hindu religious ideas and turned Asian "aryans" into Nordic "supermen" by mixing Tibetan Hinduism with misunderstood ideas of Darwinian evolution and concepts of Atlantis origins of modern civilization as put forth by Ignatius Donnelly.
These ideas were translated into German and popularized by Edmund Kiss where they became the foundation for most Nazi mythology and racial concepts.
theblackknight
12-20-11, 15:38
What a shame. When I would see a junior enlisted guy with one, the first thought that occured to me is that they either saved someones life, killed a bunch of people or save the USN a lot of money. I was an E-4 when I got mine and do not think any other E-4's at my command had one.
C4
Sadly its become a joke. My budy said he was sure of getting out when he saw a female sgt at the ball with nothing but her fireawtch,gwot,and a nam w 2 stars.
http://terminallance.com/comics/2010-07-09-Strip_50_NAM_web.gif
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Still gotta earn this one:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/U.S._Navy_Submarine_%28Enlisted%29_warfare_pin.jpg
I thought it was pretty cool when I earned mine. I still think it's cool.
And yeah, I got 2 NAMs. One for completing an R-114 flush and charge and the other for lapping the seat on a coolant discharge valve (which did mean something, we would have missed our alert date by a week if the bubbas had done it).
ETA: Earned a floater badge too, that was a ****ing joke. It does look neat though.
Not sure if this is still the case but for awhile any support person at an SF group got to wear a green beret too. I knew alot of SF guys that were kinda pissed about that. Nothing like seeing some pregnant admin chick wearing a green beret to really kill it for you.
No they can't, SF support wears the red beret because it's an airborne unit.
Nobody but SF qualified soldiers wear the green beret.
I have to admit, more pogues in my unit had NAM's than line guys in the platoons. They'd write up their own recommendations and their idiot lieutenants would sign the damned things. Most of us didn't care though. I've got my CAR and an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, along with a JMUC. Everyone in my platoon came back to the States alive and whole. That means more to me than a chest full of medals.
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