WHAT WAS IT ISSUED FOR? conducted by the Editor 7401 - The first appears to be British’ the badge of the Garter surrounded by thistles. Ribbon unidentified as to colors. 7402 - Appears to be a Polish medal bearing inscription SILT ZBROJNE W SLUZBIE OJCZTZNY *. The Roman numeral "V" appears in a circle below. Orde~ ol Labour Glory. ~VIeda] o! Veteran o! Labour. U.S.S.R.: -AWARDS TO WORKERS AND PEASANTS From: MOSCOW NEWS February 2, 1974 submitted by Harry A. Mohler Socialist society was the first to make creative work the focal point of man’s aspirations, the main purport of his life. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Soviet state, the state of workers and peasants, regards man’s attitude towards work, his dedication as the main criterion of his standing in society. We value people not for the money they possess, hut for the work they do. Naturally, Soviet society has always held the working- man in high esteem, awarding to the best orders and medals. The Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of the Badge of Honour, the Medal for Labour Valour, and the Medal for Distinction in Labour have been awarded to hundreds of thousands of Soviet people. More than 17,000 people, chiefly workers and peasants, have been awarded the coveted title of Hero of Socialist Labour. Now the awards of our Motherland for high results in labour have been supplemented with another Order, the ORDER OF LABOUR GLORY (First, Second and Third Class), and the MEDAL OF VETERAN OF LABOUR. What is the main characteristic of the new Order which is awarded, in keeping with the status recently published in Soviet papers, for high production and steady overfulfilment of norms and plans? At the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet our correspondent was in- formed that the designation of the Order "is to stimulate constructive energy in every possible way and to worthily encourage those who are the direct creators of all the material values in the country; in other words, rank- and-file labourers, workers employed in industry, agriculture, transportation, construction and on collective farms. This award will certainly he a new incentive in creative work." The Order of Labour Glory is, above all, a form of moral incentive for workers. Fully in keeping with the princlple of combining moral and materlal incentives, those who are awarded this Order receive a number of material privillges. For instance, their pension is increased 15 per cent; they obtain the right of free use of municipal transport, and once a year are granted a free transportation voucher to a sanatorium or holiday home. As a matter of fact, the order-bearers are granted free fare (both ways) by boat, plane or train. The new Order is worn on the left side of the breast after the Order of Glory, a combat award presented tO privates and NCO’s during the last war. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MORE ON WORLD RECORD HOLDERS OF MEDALS: In Volume 24, No. 7 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR an enquiry by Norris D. McWhister in England wanted some data on Air Medals for the GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, I noted to him that Arabic numbers are now used by some on ribbon bars of the Air Medals due to large numbers of awards. Another item I thought they could use was that General of the Army, Douglas MecArthur DOES NOT have the most Silver Star awards (7) (which they list), but Brigadler-General John T. Corley, U.S. Army (Ret.) earned 8 awards (5 in World War II - i. i0 Nov 42, N.Africa, 2. July 1943, Sicily, 3.6 June 1944, D-Day, 4. Aachen-lst Unconditional surrender of a German city, 5. Nov, 1944 - Hurtgen Forest, (3 in Korea, 6. Wonson, Korea, 7 & 8 Prior to evacuation of Korea. All awards as an Infantry Officer. He was a gradu- ate of West Point (Class of 1938). It was also noted that Gen. Corley’s son died in Viet Nam (also a West Pointer) and earned a Silver Star. Howard E. Wolery, #1915 SOME NOTES ON THE POUR LE MERITE - MILITARY: Of possible interest to collectors of Prussian awards is this information taken from the book, FIGHTER TACTICS AND STRATEGY, 1914-1970, by Edward H. Sims. "In a recent interview with General Theo Osterkamp, victor over 32 allied airmen in WWI, General Osterkamp states that there are only eighteen surviving members of the Order of Pour le Merite, four of whom are fighter pilots. General Osterkamp is the present Ordens~mnzler of the Pour le Merlte Order and lives in Baden-Baden, Germany." Also from the same book, "Joseph Jacobs, fifth ranking ace of the German Flying Service in World War I, won his Pour le Merite in December, 1917, and in 1967 celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the award, which entitled him to wear the Pour le Merite with fifty-year gold crown. Mr. Jacobs states that there are only five surviving holders of the Pour le Merite with gold This information is of interest because although the Pour le Merite Order was suspended on NOVEMBER ii, 1918, apparently these holders still living can obtain the fifty-year gold crown (presumably from a private source). James B. Petty, #1732 24 .