Unusual Medal Bar

[hawk3370]

This medal bar is from the estate of Lt. Ray Welborn, US Navy. Bar is unusual in that he has added the Southern Cross of Honor for Vietnam along with his official navy awards. Bar consist of Marksmanship Medal, Expedition Medal and Southern Cross of Honor. The Southern Cross of Honor is issued by the Daughters of the Confederacy to sons or daughters of a Confederate Veteran.

The second pic shows the Southern Cross of Honor for the Civil War, Spanish American War, WW1 and WW2. The only three I am missing are the Philippine Insurection, Korean War and War on Terror. With the exception of the Civil War Cross these little devils are extremely hard to find.

[emccomas]

Nice medals, and interesting grouping.

 

One small point, the first medal on the second photo is the United Daughters of the Confederacy Southern Cross of Honor.

 

The other medals are actually named UDC Cross of Military Service.

 

And as you have pointed out, there are different Crosses of Military Service for the various wars / conflicts that US troops have been involved in since 1900, plus the Spanish American War and the Philippines Insurrection.

 

UDC Crosses of Military Service have been issued for service in:

 

World War I - pretty common and easy to find, prices in the $75 to $150 range

Spanish American War - rare medal, hard to find, I believe that about 1200 or these medals were manufactured, prices in the $750 to $1000 range

Philippines Insurrection - very rare medal, the hardest of the classic medals to find, I believe about 400 of these were manufactured, prices $2000 to $2500 range

World War II - also pretty common, and are starting to show up regularly as original recipients pass away. Prices are $100 to $200 range

Korean Conflict - a bit tough to locate one of these, somewhat rare, limited production, prices are $500 to $750 range

Vietnam Conflict - also tough to locate as many of the recipients are still alive, prices are in the $250 to $300 range

Global War of Terror - fairly new medal, very hard to find in the market, hard to estimate prices on this one

 

There is a additional device that can be added to these medals. It is a small bronze dolphin. and it represents overseas service.

 

I have been tracking recipients of the Cross of Military Service and posting that information in this listing:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/203883-electronic-file-for-udc-cross-of-military-service/

 

I am also a collector of these medals, and I am missing the Spanish American War and the Global War on Terror Crosses of Military Service.

 

I also own a set of three Crosses of Military Service awarded to one recipient for three different conflicts. I have the WWII, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict Crosses of Military Service for Admiral Thomas E. Bass.

[Dave]

Good info...thanks for the details on the Crosses! I saw a Korean War one as a BIN on eBay about a month ago, but didn't pull the trigger on it because I knew little about them or their rarity. I had never seen one before, but I didn't know if it was just because I wasn't paying attention or if they were legitimately rare...apparently the latter is the case! I also didn't know they produced ones for wars other than WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam...that's news to me as well.

 

Always great to gain more education!

[hawk3370]

Nice medals, and interesting grouping.

 

One small point, the first medal on the second photo is the United Daughters of the Confederacy Southern Cross of Honor.

 

The other medals are actually named UDC Cross of Military Service.

 

And as you have pointed out, there are different Crosses of Military Service for the various wars / conflicts that US troops have been involved in since 1900, plus the Spanish American War and the Philippines Insurrection.

 

UDC Crosses of Military Service have been issued for service in:

 

World War I - pretty common and easy to find, prices in the $75 to $150 range

Spanish American War - rare medal, hard to find, I believe that about 1200 or these medals were manufactured, prices in the $750 to $1000 range

Philippines Insurrection - very rare medal, the hardest of the classic medals to find, I believe about 400 of these were manufactured, prices $2000 to $2500 range

World War II - also pretty common, and are starting to show up regularly as original recipients pass away. Prices are $100 to $200 range

Korean Conflict - a bit tough to locate one of these, somewhat rare, limited production, prices are $500 to $750 range

Vietnam Conflict - also tough to locate as many of the recipients are still alive, prices are in the $250 to $300 range

Global War of Terror - fairly new medal, very hard to find in the market, hard to estimate prices on this one

 

There is a additional device that can be added to these medals. It is a small bronze dolphin. and it represents overseas service.

 

I have been tracking recipients of the Cross of Military Service and posting that information in this listing:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/203883-electronic-file-for-udc-cross-of-military-service/

 

I am also a collector of these medals, and I am missing the Spanish American War and the Global War on Terror Crosses of Military Service.

 

I also own a set of three Crosses of Military Service awarded to one recipient for three different conflicts. I have the WWII, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict Crosses of Military Service for Admiral Thomas E. Bass.

 

Thanks much, I just got interested in these awards and am trying to get a complete set to frame. Good information.

 

[emccomas]

Here is a complete set (minus the Global War on Terror, which I have yet to see in the marketplace) that I used to own. I sold off a number of these, and then decided I wanted them back, so I bought most of them again.

 

I am still looking for a nice attributed Spanish American War Cross of Military Service, preferably in the original box. And yes I know that is asking a lot, but I did luck into a Philippines Insurrection Cross of Military Service, attributed, and in the original box, so anything is possible.

 

Also, there is a miniature version of the WWI CMS. These are also pretty rare, and prices run in the $250 - $300 range (but I have seen one priced at $1200) when they show up. Here is a picture of the miniature.