Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: midnight Target on July 22, 2002, 08:48:36 PM
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I saw this case at the Viet Nam Memorial Wall in D.C.
I didn't want to disturb it, so I took a pic. Does anyone recognize this case? I assumed it was for a medal, but which one?
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Ya got me. It dosen't look link any of the boxes my dads medals, or mine, came in.
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I don't know about that case, but man, that wall is one of the most emotionally wrenching experiences. When I visited it, someone had laid out a photograph from the field, and with it, the "St. Crispin's day" quote from Henry V. I didn't know those two guys, but I lost it right there.
-Sikboy
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There was a book that had been released that contained photos of all of the objects left at the wall. Don't worry - all of the items left at the wall are carefully collected and the stored (except for perishables such as flowers) by either the Smithsonian or the Parks Dept (can't recall which).
When I was there, someone had left a pair of vintage aviator sunglasses and an old Seiko watch (the high-end watch of that time period). That really got to me...
Right now I'm reading "The Soldiers' Story", a compendium of "as told to" interviews transcribed into a book that I picked up off the bargain shelves at Barnes and Noble. Some good reading there.
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The Wall was my favorite experience on the Mall (not counting beers with Sikboy).
While I was there I saw this woman straining to reach a name with that piece of paper they give you. I walked up and offered to help. She was very appreciative and I really got the feel of the memorial. She thanked me, but I received much more than I gave.
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Well our country put itself through a lot of BS over this war. Something happened to me the other day that made me realize it was a good war.
There's a old vietnamese guy down the road from my office that owns a gas station. He was from the south. He told me why we were there. He also said he could never repay all the soldiers that died over there to give him and his family freedom. S! to those that served there. I probably would have been a pinko draft dodger back then, who knows.
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Think it could be a Bronze Star... my dad has a couple of those whatever they are to hold the medal in (the medals too)..
then again, I'm not really sure. It looks familiar, but I haven't seen the medals in a couple years now.
-SW
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My brother is from South Vietnam. He was on THE LAST PLANE the day Saigon fell. I always thank vets when I see him. I have yet to even go to DC, let alone the wall.
But it is like I told my wife. She said "Well, take some Kleenex". I replied "Nope, (said sharply and fast)". "Why not?" I said "If the amount of water leaving my tear ducts can make a buddy's flower last 30 seconds longer, it is worth it." She cried her bellybutton off.
I was wondering though, is there a guy that has either dog tags or bracelets of MIA's?
Midnight, thanks for the pic. I love looking at pictures of the wall. Thanks
"MIA-POW You are not forgotten"
Masher
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As for the Case.
These would be my 4 guesses.
1. CMOH
2. Army Distinguished Service Cross Medal
3. "the Silver"
4. "the Bronze"
sidebar - I'd be crying to much to take a picture. Anyone ever seen the movie "In Country"?
Masher
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Those cases are generic...no real way of telling what it is without opening it up. I have a few sitting right on the shelf behind me.
Masher- there is no "Army Distinguished Service Cross", there is a Distinguished Service Cross, a Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and a Distinguished Service Medal. They are not service-specific.
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forgive me. I should have left it to the vets, huh?
Masher
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I dont think its the bronze star. I am looking at one of those, with V for valor. The box is much smaller. All the boxes, are smaller.
My dad has a Korean Presentation Presidential Award - Ambassador to Peace medal. Its in a large box. A Korean medal obviously. Maybe this is a Vietnamese medal of some kind.
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Absolutely unsure, but it kinda looks like a document citation case, not a medal case, haven't seen one in a long time.
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I'm almost positive those are the cases my dad has his BStars in.
The literally pop open when you open it, and on the right side is where the medal hangs with the ribbon above it.
Of course, Raub's prolly right and they are just generic display/holding cases.
-SW
EDIT: Said Kratzer, meant Raubvogel.
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Can anyone make out what is printed on the case. ( my monitor is a 12 year old hitachi workstation. Crisp picture it aint :) )
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"United States of America"
-SW
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Raubvogel has it right. The cases are generic, the contents are not. :) The case contains the medal and ribbon as well as a straight ribbon for wear on the blouse. (fruit salad for those who understand the term)
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Hmmm. All I have is a blob in the lower right corner. And a couple of lines down the left side. I better leave this to the people who can actually see the thing.
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Read this book.
http://www.stolenvalor.com
It will shock the heck out of you - especially my fellow members of the armed forces.
It really debunks alot of the total lies that are accepted as fact re: the U.S. led war in SE Asia and the Veterans of that conflict.
Mike/wulfie
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I remember reading one veteran's account that he gave a reporter who saw hime leave an old photo of an NVA soldier (the NVA soldier's identity is unknown) and his daughter (assumed).
The veteran had encountered the NVA soldier on a raised path between rice paddies. They had both come around a corner of hogher vegitation and surprised eachother. He said they stood there, looking at eachother, for what felt like a very long time. His M-16 pointed at the ground and the NVA soldier's AK-47 pointing at the ground. Then he raised his M-16 and shot the NVA soldier. After he had killed the NVA soldier, he searched his body and found the photo of the guy with his daughter, posed a well dressed for a portrait shot. He said that looking at that photo brought home to him that his adversarries were people just like his fellow soldiers, the photo was the kind of thing that all soldiers carried.
He put the photo into his wallet and carried it for more than 30 years. He left it at the wall when the US and Vietnam started to normalize relations.
The reporter asked him what he'd say to the NVA soldier if he could. The veteran said that he'd say "Thank you for my life, for not shooting me."
I found the story very touching.
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Originally posted by Maverick
Raubvogel has it right. The cases are generic, the contents are not. :) The case contains the medal and ribbon as well as a straight ribbon for wear on the blouse. (fruit salad for those who understand the term)
Ditto
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Originally posted by Karnak
I remember reading one veteran's account that he gave a reporter who saw hime leave an old photo of an NVA soldier (the NVA soldier's identity is unknown) and his daughter (assumed).
The veteran had encountered the NVA soldier on a raised path between rice paddies. They had both come around a corner of hogher vegitation and surprised eachother. He said they stood there, looking at eachother, for what felt like a very long time. His M-16 pointed at the ground and the NVA soldier's AK-47 pointing at the ground. Then he raised his M-16 and shot the NVA soldier. After he had killed the NVA soldier, he searched his body and found the photo of the guy with his daughter, posed a well dressed for a portrait shot. He said that looking at that photo brought home to him that his adversarries were people just like his fellow soldiers, the photo was the kind of thing that all soldiers carried.
He put the photo into his wallet and carried it for more than 30 years. He left it at the wall when the US and Vietnam started to normalize relations.
The reporter asked him what he'd say to the NVA soldier if he could. The veteran said that he'd say "Thank you for my life, for not shooting me."
I found the story very touching.
They did an entire special on MSNBC on that picture. The American soldier carried it for years, and it haunted him. He finally let it go at the wall, and thought all was healed. The same picture later turned up in the book someone else mentioned, and the guys friends took the book to him. He thought he had buried that ghost, and it kept coming back.
The local news heard about him, and he actually was sent on their dime to Viet Nam to look for the girl and return the photo. They met, and according to the story, he continues to stay in contact with the girl.
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I visit The Wall whenever I'm in D.C. This first time I was there, as a young Captain in the Air Force, I took my camera. I wanted to get one of those touching photos of some vet or family member standing in front of the wall. I figured it would make a good lead-in to a story or article, as I enjoy writing. As I was standing there looking around, I noticed an older man walk up to The Wall, leaning heavily on a cane.
I walked up about four feet behind him, camera in hand and began to raise it to my eye just as the gentleman raised a gnarled hand up to reverantly touch a name. Then I looked past his body to his reflection in the marble, saw the look of pride and loss on his face, and in his eyes. The hand holding the camera dropped to my side, I nodded to the face in the mirrored surface, and then turned silently away. It remains etched in my mind with greater clarity than any two-dimensional image could ever hope to provide.
God bless those who served, those who died, and those who remain behind to cherish their memories.
Sabre