. Today . . . . . . . .    This morning I attended a car show in Ste Mere Eglise which Johan had sent details for, sadly for me too many modern road cars and little by way of vintage or veteran.  And this afternoon we are invited to a VE Day barbecue so I dressed accordingly and off we go . . . . . . . . . hopefully I will grab a few more photos at the barbecue.                   Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, May 11 2O25.     ….

In the very early days of the Legion of Merit, there were documented instances (likely due to confusion in interpreting the regulation) when it was a presented to U.S. Army personnel in degrees other than Legionnaire (as the U.S. Army awards regulation currently prescribes).  The attached image is one such case.  As seen in the photograph, Brigadier General Barker was presented the Legion of Merit in the degree of Officer.   Shade      

Rooster,  that USS Concord Dewey Medal you posted from Wiki,  I wouldn't be plunking down anything on that without pictures of the back of the brooch (which I'm not feeling the real based on that picture of the front) and I'd need to see the rim naming.    The drape (ribbon) is hideous.   Anybody thinking about putting down the money it will take to buy an authentic Dewey named to a sailor or marine  in Dewey's squadron at Manila Bay on 5/1/1898 best do their homework, and get the course book.   There's pictures of numerous Dewey copies and fakes made to deceive the collector market in John and Allen's book and one medal in particular that's scary good as a fake-- even the rim impressed naming.  If I remember correctly they found two copies of that particular fake.  If memory serves,  it's believed to have been made in Korea, but I could be wrong on that. 

Apparently I was further with 'Fordifying' than I realized. I already mentioned before I have a GPW steering box & column as a spare; today I took the steering box that's on the jeep off and cleaned the outside as it was caked in mud and old grease (never took it off before) and lo & behold look what I found:       The steering column is fixed to the box with these 3 bolts; they have a different script than the usual style:         The outer tube over the column was fitted with a clamp with an 'AA'-marked bolt so that is Willys, and the tube itself could very well be the original one to  my jeep.   I also started to strip some parts from the engine and to clean the block.       The cross-over tube is an original F marked one and will be replaced by a 1st type, the oil filler pipe & dipstick will also be replaced with the 1st push-pull type, the CJ-model oil filter bracket I have now will be replaced by the correct type but unfortunately I will have to keep using the CJ oil filter housing for now as I haven't found an original Purolator or (preferably) Fram housing yet.   The block has to be cleaned very thoroughly to get rid of all the oil and grease residue, or the fresh paint will fall off again in 6 months. For this I use de-greaser, a wire wheel, a plumbers' torch and acetone (not at the same time 🤣 ).

From the web site: Military Medals,  NO DISTINCTION in degree is made when the award is given to U.S. personnel, though the Legion of Merit is typically presented only to senior command or staff, with occasional exceptions. SO there should be NO "gold miniature of decoration and horizontal gold bar"    

Your belt is100% correct with the buckle. I have a few and some times the belt has been swapped out.

Hello,  does anyone know what year the all black metal insignia first came into use.    (rank, service, cib, pilot, etc... )      Thanks.   Sammy T

What are your thoughts on this wing? I have seen a similar one like this on the forum but I can't find it again.

Very impressive grouping, congrats. 

That’s a nice collection. Thanks for sharing.