Thread: Remembering a Warrior

Wonderful and thanks for sharing a great story.

Would it be impolite to ask what the various decorations mean?

Awesome work to get it together
Definitely worth it
Job well done I am sure he would be proud of it

What a touching and heart warming story. Well done to everyone involved.

This is a good example of 'Members helping Members'. Not everything is about straight razors. There are more important things in life.

This means so much to the family, Max's father had passed away and a few years later when his mother was out of town, the family home caught fire. The home was saved and so were Max's medals, but barely. Look closely at the fuzzy picture of the original display and you will see that the wooden frame is charred. When Max's mother learned of the fire, Max's medals were the only things she was concerned with.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Wonderful and thanks for sharing a great story.

Would it be impolite to ask what the various decorations mean?

Not at all. I will list the decorations (medals) from left to right as they appear at the top of Max's display.

Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of the United States Military for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement,
or meritorious service in a combat zone. Whenever the medal is awarded by the Army for acts of valor in combat, the “V” device is authorized for wear.

Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States Military awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or
killed, while serving, in armed combat.

Air Medal
The Air Medal The medal is awarded to anyone who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States,
distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
The medal may be awarded with a "V" Device for an act of heroism against an armed enemy.

Army Commendation Medal
The Army Commendation Medal which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or
meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy the “V” device may be awarded.

Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States Military Service.
Awarded to any military member who complete consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service”.

National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the
United States military during specific armed conflicts.

Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established in 1965 by
order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during certain campaign
periods during the Vietnam War. The stars represent participation in certain defined periods of major
operations.

Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm
Authorized by the Government of (South) Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) for meritorious
unit service during armed conflict in the Republic of Vietnam. The Palm device represents that
the unit Palm device was for unit valor and courage while fighting the enemy.

Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was authorized by the
Government of Vietnam to members of the Armed Forces of the
United States and its Allies who served 6 or more months in Vietnam during
the campaign.

Down the display to the right are the ribbons that match the medals. Just above those
ribbons is a blue silk ribbon with a gold frame which represents a Presidential Unit Citation.

Presidential Unit Citation
For service in a unit cited in the name of the president for extraordinary heroism in action. This particular citation
was awarded to the 173rd Airborne Division while Max was serving with that unit.

Below the row of medals and at the apex of the flag frame is the Combat Infantry Badge. This badge is awarded only to enlisted men and officers
who serve in an Infantry occupational specialty. A part of the criteria for award is a requirement for a minimum of 30 days in armed direct combat
with the enemy. Infantrymen are extremely proud of their CIB's as they represent a distinct separation from other forms of combat occupations
such as Armor, Artillery or tactical air. This is the award that give's one "bragging rights" if you will, a been there and done that measure.

At the top of the frame and to the left and right of the medals are enlisted soldier's occupational insignia's. Crossed Rifles represents an Infantry occupation
and the blue back grounds surrounding the gold discs also represent infantry.

Below the Bronze Star Medal is a Vietnamese Paratrooper badge. Max would have earned this badge by completion
of the South Vietnamese Army criteria for becoming a paratrooper and in this case a Master parachutist.

Off to the right side of the wood flag frame apex is Max's U.S. Master Parachutist Badge "jump wings". This badge is earned by
participation in a minimum of 65 jumps including twenty-five jumps with combat equipment which includes your weapon, ammunition,
rations, water and other essential items to sustain a paratrooper in individual combat. Four night jumps must also be made.
Parachute badges consist of the basic badge, a senior badge which has a single star above the parachute and the master badge which
has the star and a wreath surrounding the star. The parachute badges are available to all U.S.Armed services and I believe they look the
same for all with the exception of Marine Recon soldiers and while they complete the Army parachute jump school their badges are gold
in color and have wings extended out from the parachute.

Also in this display on the bottom right is an Army qualification badge. Max's badge indicates and award for being an Expert with
a rifle.

On the left side of the display below the name and information plate is the unit insignia of the 173rd Airborne Division. The 173rd is
the owner of an extremely proud heritage of major ground combat operations including combat parachute jumps.

Glad I was able to help with this! Pleasure to honor my Army brothers.

Wow Roy (and Lz6, MajorEthanolic and anyone else involved in this project) What a fantastic tribute to this man and a great addition to his family history. A Warrior of the highest calibre!

Well done to you all, and a special bit of praise to Roy for the kind heart that beats in that mans chest. Kindness is common with the members here, but I think Roy might just pip the other runners in the race by a nose.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Wow Roy (and Lz6, MajorEthanolic and anyone else involved in this project) What a fantastic tribute to this man and a great addition to his family history. A Warrior of the highest calibre!

Well done to you all, and a special bit of praise to Roy for the kind heart that beats in that mans chest. Kindness is common with the members here, but I think Roy might just pip the other runners in the race by a nose.


Mick

Thanks mate, it's interesting how you worded about the runners as a young man that I work with just gave me a DVD of Gallipoli; a wonderful film and mostly about friendship based on 'runners'.

As I've said I'm hoping to have family pictures very soon.

Thanks again for the kind words and friendship.

Ya done good, Roy.

Max would be proud.

R.I.P. Max

Originally Posted by Wullie

Ya done good, Roy.

Max would be proud.

R.I.P. Max

Thanks my friend, I know you mean it!

My younger brother and I are hoping to take the shadow box to his sisters in Kendrick ID sometime the first week of October.

Damn, I wish all of my SRP Brethren could be there! I know that their thoughts just like yours will be with us. :