identical except for the color of the eight-pointed star, to production runs of 1,000 each. The reverses of all four which is black. medals are blank. The metallic drapes are all 26mm in width and 34mm in length. The medals, of gilded and enameled base metal are of high quality and each comes in a plain blue velvet-like case, 106 mm x 76 mm (Figure 5). These medals, it appears, are to be awarded by the United States military, accordingly their status can be inferred as quasi-official.

With regard to the design the Arabic inscription for Republic of Iraq on all four reads AL JUMHURIA AL IRAQIYA which was last used on Saddam era awards prior to 1990, thereafter the inscriptions read JUMHORIYAT AL IRAQ - the difference in Arabic being that the former is the feminine and the latter masculine. Also at this time the Iraqi flag upon the eagle changed from horizontal to vertical and the Arabic inscription ALLAHUAKHAR (God is Great) was added to the flag. Thus the medals are a mix of old and new Saddam styles. Finally the eight-pointed star format of the Achievement and Valor Medals is a style adopted by the Saddam regime and occurs in a series of badges and architectural designs.

Figure 3: Obverse of the Killed in Action Medal Editor’s note: Both authors submitted materials on these medals. As each author submitted material that the other did While some 2000 Medals for Achievement have been not, the editor, with the permission of each author, has taken manufactured, the other three medals have been limited the liberty of combining the material for a single article.

Figure 5: The four new Iraqi medals in their presentation cases.

Vol. 58, No. 6 35 UNUSUAL "HEROES" OF

Robin C. Chiang

The North Korean system of honor includes the concurrent marriage,6 awarding of the title of"Hero of the Republic", the Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Republic (or the Gold Star Mr. Baik Ki Wu, a drilling specialist at Taehung Medal of the Hero of the Labor), and the Order of the Mine in Ryanggang province, who devoted 30 National Flag First Class. The Gold Star Medal of the years to drilling and overcoming the "handicap" of being the son of a landlord,6 Hero of the Republic is awarded to honor heroic exploits in war, and the Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Labor Mr. Chang Chun Sil, the director of the Industry is awarded for efficiency and merit in professional work. Management Office in Chonchon County, who As commented by a South Korean official, North Korea was made labor hero twice for his contribution awards "a wave of [heroes] when the country is going toward improving the livelihood of his neighbors through hard times." 4 North Korea has awarded so many by successfully cultivating barren farmland by that the South Korean government has stopped keeping fertilizing it with human manure (which he carried track of the number awarded.4, 5 Such awards have in pails over his shoulders for decades),6 produced unusual "heroes" - not all of them human! housewife who donated 500 pigs over 20 years to the North Korean army,s, 7 and In October 2001, the title of "Hero of the Republic," the Gold Star Medal of the Hero of Labor and the ¯ a mother who gave birth to eight children was Order of the National Flag First Class were awarded appropriately made a "Hero of Labor".5, 7 to a 15-ton pneumatic hammer at the July 6 Railway Factory. According to the state media, the hammer Sport heroes have been similarly honored. Examples had been in operation for 30 years without fail and had include, Mr. Hong Chang Su a North Korean residing received the awards for "contributions to producing in Japan who beat South Korean boxer Cho In Ju in a many parts necessary for railway transportation and the title match held in Seoul, 1, 6 and Ms. Jong Song Ok who industrialization of the country." 2-5.7 won victory in the marathon in the 1999 World Field and Track Championships by "picturing Kim Jong I1 in her Another unusual award was made in 2000, when a hero’s mind."Besides the honors, Ms. Jong was also awarded a title was awarded to a gingko tree for having had a United posh apartment and a Mercedes Benz. 5, 7 States aircraft crash into it during the , while purportedly trying to destroy a North Korean military The completion of a major railroad, highway or power vehicle underneath the tree?, 7 plant construction project often resulted in the award of tens of labor heroes. In an exceptional case, more than Besides a machine and a tree, these decorations have 100 workers were made labor heroes upon the completion been awarded to people for performing deeds that the of the Nampo Floodgate Project.6 Once made labor authorities deemed to have demonstrated a heroic exploit heroes, the ordinary workers enjoy respect and social in war or efficiency and merit in professional work. perks comparable to those enjoyed by the chief secretary Interesting examples include: of the region or county. They are eligible to get medical treatment at the special department of hospitals where Mr. Lee Bok-Ji who died in April 1995 after leading officials receive treatment. When traveling by running into his burning house seven times to train, they are entitled to use compartments reserved save portraits and books of Kim I1 Sung and Kim for ranking officials. In addition, their children receive Jong I1 from damage,4 preferential consideration for entering institutes of a man who drowned in a shipwreck in the open higher education. Also, the best houses available in the sea clutching on his chest a vinyl wrapped portrait neighborhood are allocated to them.6 of the North Korean leader,6 As an interesting note, on the Internet I found a photograph Ms. Paik Sol Hi, a researcher at the Botanical of three North Korean Vice-Marshals (Chasu) along Research Institute (affiliated with the Academy with Kim Jong I! (also known as "Dear Leader"). The of Sciences), who developed an oil-producing Vice-Marshal to the left ofKim Jong I1 is a "Hero of the perennial herb at the cost of missing a chance of Republic" (Figure 1). Between the three Vice-Marshals,

36 JOMSA just on their left breasts, there are no less than 47 orders Abbreviations used in Table 1 : or decorations. A: Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Republic B: Order of Kim I1 Sung C: Order of the National Flag, First Class D: Order of Freedom and Independence, First Class E: Order of Labor F: Order of the National Flag, Second Class G: Order of the National Flag, Third Class H: Order of Freedom and Independence, Third Class ?: Unidentified order; probably the Gold Star Medal.

Acknowledgement I thank Mr: Joseph Joh, Editor of The Seoul Times, for permission to reproduce the photograph in Figure 1.

Endnotes: 1. "Hong Chung Su Awarded Title of Hero of DPRK", The People’s Korea, June 28, 2001 (http://wwwl.korea-np.co.jp/ptd163_ issue/2001062804.htm). 2. "North Korea honours ’hero’ hammer", BBCNews, October 4, 2001 (http://news.bbc.co.uld 1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1579045.stm), 3. "Machine made a N. Korean hero", The Straits Times, October Figure 1: Three North Korean Vice-Marshals with 5, 2001. Kim Jong II (at the righO. 4. "North Korea’s new hero is a hammer", SIFY News, October 5, 2001. 5. "Lacking essentials, North Korea teems with everyday As far as possible, I have attempted to identify them (left heroes", Berkeley Daily Planet, October 12, 2001 (http://www. berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate= 10-12- breasts only) (Table 1): 01 &storyID=7430). 6. Kang Chol Hwan, "’Heroes’ in North Korea," The Chosun llbo, July 15, 2001. Vice-Marshal Vice-Marshal Vice-Marshal 7. Soo-Jeong Lee, "North Korea Teems With Heroes", The Washington (f~rst from (second from (third from Post, October 11,2001. the left) the left) the left)

A JOMSA Follow-up

Page 26 of the July-August 2007 issue of JOMSA had an "In the News" item concerning Marjorie Grismore’s search for the heirs of Captain (Brevet Major) Joseph F. CCC Carter, 3rd Maryland Infantry so that she could return CCC his Civil War Medal of Honor and accompanying DDD medals to his descendents. OMSA member James E. EEL Gunnis has received an email from Ron Wilkins, a Civil War re-enactor in Indianapolis who was assisting Ms. Grismore in her search, indicating that shortly after AA the article was published in the Indianapolis Star, Ms. ? BB Grismore received an email from a genealogist saying BB CCC CCC CCC that she had located Carter’s great-great-granddaughter CCC CCC in Baltimore, Maryland. On Super Bowl Sunday the CCD DDE great-great-granddaughter and Ms. Grimore spoke on EEL the phone, and ten days later Major Carter’s Medal of EFF ?GH Honor and his other medals were back in the hands of the Carter heirs.

Table 1: Identification of the decorations worn by the three North Submitted by James E. Gunnis Korean Vice-Marshals in Figure 1.

Vol. 58, No. 6 37