1914 the pension will be paid and thereafter by January this alteration see the photo of the Life Guard who wears 15th of each following year the recipient is alive. If the his War of 1864 Medal with a trifold ribbon. It should pensioner changes residence for any reason the pensioner also be noted that all the Type 2, War Medals of 1864 is responsible for providing the Finance Ministry with that the author has seen have a ball and ring suspension the new address." The document is dated January 23, with the trifold ribbon. 1914. Again a new or veteran collector can never tell what new research can bring or what new skills one must A new collector of medals can learn from these medals. learn. I never thought I would have to translate Danish A medal with low valuation is not the guiding star in documents but found in doing so new skills are attainable making ajudgrnent about a purchase. The history, design, and sometimes not as hard as they would seem. creation and culture behind the medal are the true value. The educational value and the joy of research is a further The ribbons of the Danish War Medals are 27mm wide reward for the beginner and the veteran. If a medal is a and red with white stripes (the national colors), which also rarity as in this case, then so much the better. make up the colors of the majority of ribbons on Danish medals. The red and white colors are also the colors of The 1864 Type I medal, that the author purchased for the national flag known as the Dannebrog, which means $63.25, proves that one does not have to be wealthy "Danish Cloth." to be a collector of medals and that a single medal can provide a rich educational experience in researching Rarity cultural, historical and numismatic facts about a nation and its people. The enjoyment of the collector lies in an Imagine, these medals were struck in quantities of 46,000 appreciation for all that a medal represents. for the 1848-1850 medal, 58,000 for the 1864 medal and 3,000 for the Combined Medal from 1848-50 and 1864. Special thanks to Philip Jorgensen, Webmaster of the The quantity figures are incredibly small for the collector Danish Order and Medal Society, who provided many of any item. These service medals are overshadowed by photos and a wealth of information, Jeffrey Jacob for the popularity and beauty of Danish orders, so one does providing resource information and Tammy Haught for not see this medal offered too often in auctions, on eBay graphics. or by dealers. Endnotes: The paucity of collectors of Danish medals also makes 1. Omengs Museum, West Zealanders in the American Civil War. for low demand; so why would a collector or dealer (2009), p.2. http://kalmus.dk/civilwar/westzealanders interested in the profit line purchase, display or advertise 2. Vibeke Sanderson, Writing Ability and Written Language of this medal? Out of all the medal dealers, auction houses Danish Private Soldiers in the Three Years War, (2007), p. 1. and eBay listings, only six of these medals were found http://www.reference-global.com 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SecondSchleswigWar,(2009), p. 1. for sale. Of the six found, one had the wrong ribbon, two 4. Ibid., p.1. were sold quickly on eBay, two remain with one medal 5. Ibid., p.6. dealer and the one the author purchased at auction. The 6. http://dhm.de/ausstellungen,TheGermanDanishWarInTheYear 18 average price for the 1848-50 medals and the 1864 medal 64,(1998),p.2. 7. International Committee of the Red Cross, The German-Danish is $113.00. War 1864, (1998), p.1. 8. http://www.denmark.dk/en.TheWarof1864,(2009),p.2. A rare part of this Danish medal can be found in an 9. Vibeke Sanderson, p. 1 unlikely place; the swivel device that connects the medal 10. http://www.medal-medaille.com,(2009),p. 1. to the ribbon. The suspension device is a common ball 11. Omengs Museum, p. 2. 12.Thomas Soderquist, The History and Poetics of Scientific connected to the suspender; on each side of the ball, the Biography, (2009), p. 1. maker has individually wrapped a metal wire to prevent 13. http ://Mortenandeden.com, (2009), R 1. the medal from sliding left or right along the suspender 14. http://images.google.coln/imagery.WarMedal1864Rasmus Ras- bar. This feature has been seen on every one of the mussen, (2009), p. 1. 15. Soderquist, p..1 original Danish medals produced in Paris for the 1864 16. L. Forrer, Biographical Dictionary of Medalists, London, (1909), medal, the 1848-50 and 1864 medal and the 1848-50 p.350. medal. As stated above, it was the tradition in Denmark to wear medals with a trifold ribbon, and some veterans Bibliography: took off the bar suspension and used the ball on the medal Barraclough, Geoffrey ed Harper Collins Atlas of World History to attach a ring and a trlfold ribbon. For an example of Italy: Lombarda Publishing, 2001.

Vol. 61, No. 3 (May-June 2010) 23 Boot, Max. War Made New. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War. Brinton, Christopher, and Wolff. A History of Civilization, Volume http://w~vw.Googletranslate.Google.com, June, 2009 2. Englewood: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1967. http://images_google.com/imagres, War Medal 1864 Rasmus Forrer, L. Biographical Dictionary of Medalists, Vol. IV, London: Rasmussen. Spink, 1909. http://images.google.com/imgres, freepages.geneology.rootsweb. FJP Auctions. Auction Catalogue, 28 May 2009. ancestry.com, The Jepsen (Jeppeson) Family. Hart, H. G. Lt. General. Hart’s Annual Army List, Militia List, and http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteengO.nsf/htmlall, The German Imperial Yeomanry List. London: John Murray Ltd., 1888. Danish War (1864). Langer, William. Encyclopedia of World History. Boston: Houghton http://www.kalmus.dk/civilwar/westzealandersl.htm. Mifflin Co., 1968. http://www.Knowledgerush. Com, "Flag of Denmark", 2009. Laslo, Alexander. A Glossary of Terms Used in Phaleristies. http://www.Medal-medaille.com," Commemorative Medal for the Albuquerque: Dorado Publishing, 1995. War of 1848-1850", June, 2009. Roeder, William. Dictionary of European History. New York: http://www.Medal-medaille.com, "Commemorative Medal for the Philosophical Library, 1957. War of 1864, June, 2009. Soderquist, Thomas. The History and Poeties ofSeientif!c Biography. http://www.milhist.dk/1864. Danish Military History, War of 1864. Google Books.corn, June, 2009. http://mortenandeden.com, Paul Wood, War Medal of 1864 certificate Stockwel!, Foster. A Sourcebook for Genealogical Research. and pension document. McFarland and Co., 2004. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Second-War-of- Ward, Prothero, and Leathes. The Cambridge Modern History Atlas. Schleswig. New York: Macmillan Company. Map 7607. http://www.omsd.dk.com http://www.austro-hungarian-anny.co.uk/denmark64.htm http:/Avww.Onwar.com/schleswig 1864.html http://www.dhm.de/ausstellungen/myth/english/daenema.html. http://www.reference-global.com Denmark. http://www.wapedia.mobi/en/Second war of Schleswig. http://www.denmark.dk/en/menu/About-Denmark/History/The http://www.wikipedia.Org/Alphee Dubois, June, 2009. Period-1720-1900. http://www.Wikipedia. Org/wiki/Flag_of_Denmark, June, 2009. http//www.denmark.dk/en/menu/About-Denmark/The-Danes/ National-Flag. June 16, 2009.

OMSA NEWS 10. Polish Orders and Medals, Vol. I - 1943-1946 by Wojciech Stela, n.d. Book Donations to the OMSA Library 11. War Medals ofthe British Army, 1650-1891 by Thom- as Carter & W. H. Long, 1972 Arms & Armor reprint 12. MilitaMedals and Decorations: A Price Guide for The following books have been donated to the OMSA Collectors by Yves Arden, 1976 Library: 13. Collecting Medals and Decorations by Alec Purves, Seaby 1968 1. Bravery, Courage and Valor: Decorations and 14. VCs of the First Worm War: 1914 by Gerald Glid- Awards of the Third Reich by Adrian Forman, Milspec don, 1994 Publishing, 2008 15. Allied Combat Medals of World War 2, Vol. 1 by 2. The 1853 Medal Roll by G.R. Everson, Christopher Aillsby, 1989 Samson Books, 1978 16. A Collection of Georgian Medals by Captain E. Gale 3. Casualty Roll for The Crimea 1854-1855, J.B. Hawkes (Ret), 1994 ttayward & Sons, 2008 17. "Semper Paratus: "Honors to the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II Compiled and Edited by Jeffrey B. Floyd 4. Worm Orders - Collection Tammann, Auction 80, UBS AG, 2008 an Dean S. Veremakis, 2008 5. Il Sommergibile Italiano Dal Delfino Allo Scire by 18. The Soldier’s Medal: A History of the U.S. Army’s Giuseppe Celeste & Graziano Tonelli, 2003 Highest Award for Non-Combat Valor by Frederic L. 6. African General Service Medals by R.B. Magor, Naval Borch III & William R. Westlake, & Military Press, 1993 7. Hands to Flying Stations: A Recollective History of Member Doug Boyce (address listed on JOMSA, Table Canadian NavalAviation 1945-1969, 2 Vols, by Steward of Contents page) can be contacted for books held by the E. Soward, 1993 library. Note that the OMSA Library is now housed and 8. The Azoff Campaign 1855 by Peter Duckers & Neil managed by the American Numismatic Association. To Mitchell, 1996 borrow books contact: RyAnne Scott, ANA Library, 818 9. Ashanti 1895-96 by Ian McInnes & Mark Fraser, N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. 1987

JOMSA NIGHT LANDING ON USS MIDWAY ON OCTOBER 24, 1972: LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) MICHAEL SARGENT BIXEL,

MATTHEW MATOIAN

Thus began the start of single carrier operations, which lasted until the end of April. She completed her tour on October 31. The USS Midway returned to Alameda on November 6th, after spending at least 146 consecutive days at sea. For this the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, which included, Attack Carrier Air Wing Five. The USS Midway left on April 10, 1972, for a third Vietnam deployment on Operation Linebacker. Operation Linebacker was the title of the 7th Air Force and Navy Task Force 77 air campaign conducted against the North Vietnamese forces from May 9 to October 23, 1972. The purpose was to bring the transportation of supplies to a crawl for the "Easter Offensive," an invasion of , by forces of the People’s Army of Vietnam that had been launched on March 30th. Operation Linebacker was the first continuous bombing effort conducted against since the bombing stopped in November 1968.

On May 11 aircraft from USS Midway continued to Figure h Lieutenant (JG) Michael S. Bixel, USN. place mines in following shipping of the North Vietnamese: Thanh Hoa, Dong Hoi, , Hon Gai, I would like to share with the readers the achievements Quang Khe, Cam Pha, and . It was during and awards of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Michael S. these operations in October that Lieutenant (Junior Bixel, (Figure 1) while a Navigator/Bombardier with Grade) Bixel, was returning from a night mission when Squadron VA- 115 (ATKRON 115), USS Midway (CVA-41), and Air Wing CVW-5 during 1971 and 1972 in the Gulf of Tonkin. The medals (awarded posthumously) are officially named, and while there are many Vietnam casualty groups coming on the market, this particular grouping is complete with citations and award documents to the recipient. However, more interesting on a numismatic level is the naming of the medals which are machine engraved in an official format and style known to be used only by the United States Navy during the late period.

The USS Midway arrived off the coast of South Vietnam on April Figure 1: The medals awarded to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Bixel (from left to righO: 16, 1971 with a crew of 4,500, in Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Gold Star and Nutneral "9", relief of USS Hancock on May 18. and Navy Cotnmendation Medal with Combat "V. "

Vol. 61, No. 3 (May-June 2010) 25