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The Order of the Paulownia Flowers

The Order of the Paulownia Flowers is an order presented by the Japanese government and established in 1888 during the Meiji Restoration.

The Order of the Paulownia Flowers (桐花章 Tōka shō) is an order presented by the Japanese government and established in 1888 during the Meiji Restoration as the highest award in the Order of the Rising Sun.

The only grade of the order is Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (旭日桐花大綬章 Kyokujitsu tōka daijushō), which ranks higher than the Order of the Rising Sun but lower than the Order of the Chrysanthemum.

Traditionally, the order has been conferred upon eminent statesmen, former prime ministers and senior cabinet ministers, diplomats and judges. It may be conferred posthumously, and is the highest regularly conferred honor in the Japanese honors system.

The Order of the Paulownia Flowers Medal Design

The badge for the Order is a gilt cross with white enameled rays, bearing a central emblem of a red enameled sun disc surrounded by red rays, and with three paulownia blossoms between each arm of the cross. It is suspended from three enameled paulownia leaves on a sash in red with white border stripes, and is worn on the right shoulder.

The star for the Order is the same as the badge, but without the paulownia leaves suspension. It is worn on the left chest.

The Order of the Chrysanthemum

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is is the highest possible honor a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his or her lifetime.

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章 Dai-kun’i kikka-shō, literally Grand Order of the Capitulum of the Chrysanthemums) is Japan’s highest order.

The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously. Apart from the Imperial Family, only six Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honor a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his or her lifetime.

The Order of the Chrysanthemum Medal Design

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enameled rays and red-enameled sun disc) placed at the center. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enameled rays; the center bears a red enameled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enameled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enameled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enameled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for “Meiji”, in classic form, indicating the era of the order’s establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enameled leaves. The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The Order of the Red Banner

The Order of the Red Banner was the first Soviet military decoration, established in 1918 by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

The Order of the Red Banner (or Орден Крaсного Знамени in Russian) was the first Soviet military decoration. It was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

The Order was awarded to individuals as well as to military units, cities, ships, political and social organizations, and state enterprises. Recipients were recognized for extraordinary heroism, dedication, and courage demonstrated on the battlefield. In later years, it was also awarded on the twentieth and again on the thirtieth anniversary of military, police, or state security service without requiring participation in combat (the “Long Service Award” variant).

The Order of the Red Banner Medal Design

The Order consisted of a white-enameled badge, which had a golden hammer and sickle badge surrounded by two golden panicles of wheat on a Red Star, backed by crossed hammer, plough, torch, and a red flag bearing the motto Proletarians (Workers) of the World, Unite!.

The medal was surrounded by two golden panicles of wheat; at the bottom were the letters “SSSR” (СССР). Additional awards of the Order bore a white enameled shield with a silver sequence number at the bottom of the obverse. A recipient of multiple Orders of the Red Banner would wear a basic badge of the Order with a numeral corresponding to the sequence of the award on a cartouche over the wheat at the bottom of the badge.

The early variants of the Order were screw back badges to allow wear on clothing. Later variants (from 1943) hung from a standard Soviet pentagonal mount with a ring through the suspension loop. The mount was covered with an overlapping 24mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with 1.5mm wide white edge stripes and a 7mm wide white central stripe.

The Order of the Red Banner was worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other Orders and medals of the USSR, was placed immediately after the Order of the October Revolution. If worn in the presence of Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.

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The Medal for the War of 1941–1945

  • Time Period: WW2
  • Year of Institution: 2 March 1946
  • Country: Greece

The Medal for the War of 1941–1945 was established on 2 March 1946 and awarded to members of the Royal Hellenic Armed Forces who had seen action. It was created as a star for land operations.

The medal was bestowed upon Royal Hellenic Armed Forces personnel for operational services to the Army in North Africa, the South Aegean Sea and Italy. Several thousands of Army personnel, the majority of the Fleet and the remaining airplanes escaped to Turkey or were evacuated to Egypt after the capitulation of the Continental Greece and the battle of Crete respectively. At the British controlled Middle East the Hellenic Armed Forces were reorganized and reequipped (with British assistance) while more personnel either from Greece or from the existing Greek population in Egypt joined their ranks.

Soon the Hellenic Armed Forces of the Middle East were able to form 2 Brigades, a Special Forces Unit (Sacred Band or Sacred Company in Greek) attached to 1st SAS. The Hellenic Royal Navy with 44 ships and over 8,500 men, became the second-largest Allied Navy in the Mediterranean after the RN, accounting for 80% of all non-RN operations.

The Hellenic Royal Air Force formed 3 Squadrons (the 335 and 336 Fighter Squadrons – equipped with Hurricanes and later with Spitfires – and the 13th Naval Cooperation Squadron which operated with Blenheims and later with Batimores).

The Hellenic Armed Forces participated to the Battle of El Alamein, to the Operations for Liberation of several Greek islands of the Aegean Sea after the capitulation of Italy, to the operation in Sicily and South Italy while several ships of the Hellenic Royal Navy supported the landing in Normany.

The Medal for the War of 1941–1945 Design

The ribbon shows what appears to be water / storage damage.

The Medal for the War of 1940–1941

  • Time Period: WW2
  • Year of Institution: 19 August 1947
  • Country: Greece

The Medal for the War of 1940–1941 was instituted by Royal Decree of August 19th 1947 to recognize the actions of the Royal Greek Armed Forces who took part in the war efforts from the outbreak of the war in Greece in 1940 until the fall of Crete in 1941 (it covers the campaigns in Epirus, Albania, Macedonia, Thrace and Crete.)

The medal was also awarded to foreign forces that fought on Greek soil.

The Medal for the War of 1940–1941 Design

The medal can either be of bronze or of gilt. The riband is of a dark blue color with a pale blue center stripe and two narrow white edge stripes. Some variations have a more grey stripe in the center. Every recipient receives a certificate with the recipients name.

The obverse bears the head of King George II, surrounded with a laurel wreath. The wreath is at the top joined by a crown. In 1983 the obverse was changed because of the changing of Greece from a kingdom to a republic in 1974. From 1983 the obverse shows a headless winged female figure above the inscription “1940-41”. The figure is surrounded by a laurel wreath, at the top joined by the Greek word for “Greece”.

The reverse has original a Greek inscription meaning “1940-41 Eprius, Albania, Macedonia, Thrace, Crete” for Army medals and “1940-41 Aegean, Ionian, Myrtoum, Adriatic” for Navy medals. From 1983 the “1940-41” was removed but the rest remained.

The Medal for the National Resistance (Greece)

  • Time Period: WW2
  • Year of Institution: 22 December 1948
  • Country: Greece

The Medal for the National Resistance was instituted on 22 December 1948 to commemorate the Nation’s Resistance during the Second World War.

It was awarded in one class and bestowed upon those who had actively served in, or had been of assistance to Greek National Resistance Organizations in their struggle against occupying Italo-German forces between 1941 and 1945. 

Those who served with the British Special Operations Executive Military Mission to Greece are eligible for the award. As are escaped prisoners of war who joined Greek Resistance organizations.

The Medal for the National Resistance Design

The Medal is a bronze medallion, the obverse of which depicts an armed Greek Resistance Fighter planting the National Flag on a rock. The reverse bears the inscription ‘National Resistance, 1941 – 1945’ in Greek.

The medal is pendent on a riband of dark blue with a wide grey center stripe. Some examples include a small bronze bar bearing the year of service on the riband.

The Medal for the Macedonian Struggle

The Medal for the Macedonian Struggle was instituted in 1931 by the Second Hellenic Republic (1924-1935) first by law and then by Presidential Decree a year later.

It was awarded to living Makedonomachoi (Macedonian fighters) veterans of the Macedonian Struggle 1903-1909. The Macedonian Struggle was a the Greek guerrilla warfare against the forces of the supporters of the Bulgarian Exarchate such as the IMRO (International Macedonian Revolutionary Organization) that were aiming to annex Macedonia to Bulgaria. The Greek efforts for Macedonia were coordinated by the Hellenic Macedonian Committee, formed in 1903.

Its fighting forces were mainly former Officers of the Hellenic Army, volunteers brought to Crete and the Peloponnese,m as well as Macedonian Greeks.

The success of their efforts bolstered Greek presence in the still Ottoman-ruled Macedonia, and prepared the annexation of the Greek major part of Macedonia, following the Balcan Wars.

The Medal for the Macedonian Struggle Design

There were only approximately 2000 medals awarded. The text “Hellenic Republic” circumscribes it. The ribbon is colored light blue, black and yellow.

The Commemorative Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War of 1913

  • Time Period: Pre-WW1
  • Year of Institution: 17 February 1914
  • Country: Greece

The Commemorative Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War of 1913 was instituted by Royal Decree on 17 February 1914 and awarded for participation in the war against Bulgaria the previous year.

An alliance of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia threw the Ottoman Turks out of almost all their remaining European territories in 1912 and the First Balkan War ended with the Treaty of London on 30 May 1913. However, the victors fell out over the division of the spoils, with Serbia and Greece forming an alliance against Bulgaria and the Second Balkan War broke out at the end of June. After initial setbacks, Bulgarian military successes stabilized the front in Macedonia. The situation was transformed by the invasion of Bulgaria by Romania on 10 July, leaving the former in a hopeless position. An armistice was agreed on 31 July with Greece gaining significant additional territory at the expense of Bulgaria.

The sense of grievance thus created led to Bulgarian participation in the two subsequent world wars on the side of Germany and against Greece but the territorial settlement has endured. The Byzantine Emperor Basil II earned the epithet ‘Bulgar-slayer’ during his wars against the Bulgarian empire of Tsar Samuel which led to the incorporation of most Bulgarian lands into the Byzantine Empire.

The Commemorative Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War of 1913 Design

The medal is struck in bronze and measures 30 mm.

The ribbon is pale blue with white edge stripes and a white-edged green central stripe.

The Medal for the Greco-Turkish War of 1912-13

  • Time Period: Pre-WW1
  • Year of Institution: 1914
  • Country: Greece

The Medal for the Greco-Turkish War of 1912-13 is a Greek medal instituted in 1914 and awarded to men of all armed forces who took part in battles or Naval battles or served in commandeering and auxiliary services on battle-sites, and also to civilians, either Greek or foreign subjects, who offered any kind of service to the Navy during the battles.

During the 1st Balkan War the alliance of Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Serbia liberated the remaining Christian populations of the European territories from the Ottoman Empire. The War ended with the Treaty of London in 1913 but soon the 2nd Balkan War started, this time against Bulgaria.

The Meritorious Service Medal (USA)

The Meritorious Service Medal (or MSM) is a military award presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguished themselves.

The Meritorious Service Medal (also known as MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969.

The MSM was previously awarded as a decoration for achievement during peacetime, but effective 11 September 2001, this decoration may also be bestowed in lieu of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a designated combat theater. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. At the Tri-Department Awards Conference (February 5, 1968), there was a discussion on the need for a third meritorious award to provide appropriate recognition for non-combat achievement or service comparable to that of the Bronze Star Medal for combat achievement or service. It was felt that the Legion of Merit‘s prestige was slipping because it was being used with increasing frequency to reward service below the Legion of Merit’s intended standard, but higher than that required for the Commendation Medals of the various military services.

Foreign military personnel in the ranks of NATO OF-5 and below and individuals who have displayed a level of service that warrants an award of such magnitude may also be eligible to be awarded the MSM.

The Meritorious Service Medal Design

The Meritorious Service Medal is a bronze medal, 1.5 inches in diameter overall, consisting of six rays appearing from the upper three points of a five-pointed star with beveled edges and containing two smaller stars defined by incised outlines.

In the obverse, in front of the lower part of the star an eagle with wings upraised standing upon two upward curving branches of laurel tied with a ribbon between the feet of the eagle. The reverse has the encircled inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “MERITORIOUS SERVICE.” The suspension ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch Crimson 67112; 1/4 inch White 67101; center 5/8 inch Crimson; 1/4 inch White; and 1/8 inch Crimson.

Additional awards of the Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and gold 5/16 inch stars in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard. These devices are also authorized for wear on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.

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