THREE MOH'S DONATED

[FFZFlyer]

Here's the link to a recent Army Times article indicated that Clinton Romesha and Florent Groberg have donated their MoH's to their parent unit at the time of their action, the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO. I think the donation date was Dec 7, 2017. Salvatore Giunta has donated his MoH to the 173d Airborne Brigade headquarters at Vicenza, Italy, but I don't know exactly when that occurred. No detailed information as to exactly where the medals will be displayed, but I'm assuming there must be a post museum at Fort Carson, CO, and there is probably something similar at the 173d HQ.

 

It is my understanding that many recipients of the Victoria Cross have donated their medals to their respective regimental museums. I wonder of the actions of these three recipients will commence a similar trend here due to current laws.

 

One must also wonder if these three recipients will have duplicate MoHs to wear when they attend official functions.

 

https://www.armytimes.com/news/2017/12/06/its-their-medal-2-medal-of-honor-recipients-will-donate-their-medals-to-4th-id/

 

 

[12A54]

My experience tells me that individual units are not responsible enough to be proper caretakers of these things. Even unit museums are questionable. I’ve seen both lose accountability of important historical items. Hope they prove me wrong.

[LuftStalg1]

My experience tells me that individual units are not responsible enough to be proper caretakers of these things. Even unit museums are questionable. I’ve seen both lose accountability of important historical items. Hope they prove me wrong.

 

I looked into the donation of the medals to Museums some time back with the though of bringing some back to the USA but sent directly to a Museum. If I remember correctly there were pretty tight regulations regarding the security of the medal at any Museum including video surveillance. Of course an inside job could get around all that so I hope they do take it seriously, and consider viewing by the public. It is still a nice story, thanks for sharing.

[emccomas]

Let's not forget that the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Museum had 5 Medals of Honor stolen.

 

7 Medals of Honor were stolen back in 2004, and two were later recovered and returned to the CMHS museum.

 

The security requirements are pretty strict.

[Dave]

I don't believe there are any security requirements for a private organization/museum for the Medal of Honor. If there are, I have seen MORE than a few violations in the museums I've visited to photograph them over the last year or so ("please don't clean the medal with WD-40!" "please don't use thumbtacks through the ribbon to hang the medal!" "please store the medal under glass or plastic so it can't be touched!")

 

I tried getting a complete set of display medals for my ship when I was a young officer. Those DO have strict requirements...strict enough where my ship couldn't meet the criteria for security (a bit ironic, I'd think!) That was for a complete set of display medals, on loan from whatever office the Navy used at the time to control those items.

 

I have a feeling there are no specific requirements for an actual awarded MOH, aside from something that might come down from, say, the Navy History and Heritage Command (for the Navy/Marine Corps) and so on. Having saved Commander Gary's MOH from going out in the trash on my first ship...I have a hunch that the security requirements for actually awarded specimen have changed dramatically...sadly...

[12A54]

I was the Adjutant of 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry when we got all the Regiment's stuff (as the lowest numbered Squadron). (We had been reflagged and the 10th Cav stuff had been in storage.) Incredible silverware, very old trophies, photographs, etc. Who knows what stuff was "lost" when it all went into storage. We put everything in cases in the HQ and I had the post museum inventory and appraise all items. I then created a property book for everything so that it could be properly signed and accounted for. I recall one large very heavy Tiffany sterling silver punchbowl, all hallmarked and with gorgeous 10th Cav enameled colors affixed and all engraved, dating from the 1890s as I recall was valued at around $3,800 back then. Security in a unit HQ is pretty flaky - only the staff duty folks present after hours in most cases. It would not surprise me at all after all these years if some items went missing or were "gifted" to outgoing commanders or whatever. Other items are lost or missing when these things go in and out of storage during deployments or periods of inactivation.

 

My roommate in Korea was assigned as the investigating officer for the Second Infantry Division Museum that lost numerous historic items to include weapons. Again, a unit-run museum with shoddy security and accountability. He spent months investigating and found that many items had been "appropriated" by various individuals, some items had been stolen or otherwise lost.

 

Bottom line is that small (and even larger) tactical units are amateurs when it comes to properly managing such things.

[joeclown]

No museum is safe look at the job done at Isabella Stewart Gardner museum a few years back. Millions in priceless paintings,and that had alarms and security.

[MWalsh]

Let's not forget that the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Museum had 5 Medals of Honor stolen.

 

7 Medals of Honor were stolen back in 2004, and two were later recovered and returned to the CMHS museum.

 

The security requirements are pretty strict.

 

I hadn't heard that a couple were actually recovered. What is the quick story on their being located and recovered?

[emccomas]

 

I hadn't heard that a couple were actually recovered. What is the quick story on their being located and recovered?

 

A correction. Apparently the two that were returned were not part of the 7 that were originally stolen.

 

Check post # 32 from this thread...

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjkobnk9ozYAhViQt8KHSdfALcQFghBMAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usmilitariaforum.com%2Fforums%2Findex.php%3F%2Ftopic%2F89057-civil-war-moh-for-sale%2Fpage-2&usg=AOvVaw3SvdmjOeU9qd3nHAC-nk_L

[artur95]

Just stumbled on this thread. I studied abroad in the Uk last semester and had the opportunity to volunteer at a British regimental museum. One day I commented how amazing it is that the museum had multiple Victoria Crosses on display. I was told that they were all replicas! The real medals were housed in a bank vault. The curator commented that the museum's security was just too shoddy for such high value items.

 

Then while in London, I had the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum and Lord Ashcroft's gallery. There was a security officer patrolling the space whom enforced a strict no photography policy. The museum protocols in the United Kingdom for the showing of the VC are quite more stringent than our protocols for the Medal of Honor.