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Can anyone award themselves medallions & citations?


boomerangutang

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                         I started writing this blurb in response to the article about street vendors being banned in Bkk.  It then segued into a topic of its own, so here goes.....   Street Vendors (and others trying to make a living from the ground-up) should retaliate by outlawing unearned citations on military and non-military uniforms.

 

                  I saw a photo recently of some of Thailand's leaders wearing snow-white uniforms - with multiple rows of medallions weighing down the fronts of their shirts.   Epaulets, commemoration medallions, pilot wings and who knows what else.  Movie stars are already ridiculous in awarding themselves gold trophies in their multiple award ceremonies (and business people who constantly award themselves commemorations), but grown men who never saw any combat look even more ridiculous in awarding themselves multiple garish medallions. 

 

                It's also demeaning to people who have actually earned battlefield commendations.  There's a shop in my town of Chiang Rai which sells nothing but police uniforms and all the glitter that goes with it.  It's easy to go to a medallion maker and just pay money to have a specialist craft several dozen authentic-looking medallions to wear in public.

 

                   What's next?  Head monks gathering together with robes plastered with dozens of gaudy commemoration?   The mind reels.  Halloween doesn't need to come to Thailand, it's already here, and the grown-ups have commandeered it.

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Most of those ribbons on the white uniformed Thai uniforms are not for military decoration, they are there to mark their achievements;

 

Brown - Able to wipe one's bottom unassisted.

 

Blue - Being Able to do joined up writing.

 

Green - Being able to grovel like a harping seal on the floor in presence of superiors.

 

Gold- Finding their way to and from work on time.

 

Wings - Accomplished boarding an aircraft without a concealed weapon (or at least not getting caught)

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When I first arrived I a few years ago I thought the teachers were in the Navy!! Yup after some checking they were wearing surplus US Navy tan uniforms and even some of the ribbons were actually US campaign ribbons!!! I was told that the ribbons were for achievement in the educational field......??????

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When you have a society with a military mindset, and everyone from teachers, administrators, civil servants, nurses and garbage collectors have a uniform, this sort of awards rubbish is just part of the territory. They build this from an early age with the emphasis on the regimentation of Scouts and assemblies at school, rather than using them as learning environments.

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Some people just love uniforms and wearing medals, and not just in Thailand. Going a little off topic, how many ranks are there in the Thai police? I know there is a Lt General, unless maybe he awarded himself that rank. I think a lot of these guys award themselves medals. maybe for collecting the highest amount of tea money in a month.

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As a vietnam veteran the wearing of all of these medals and regalia really annoys me.!! I recently saw a ceremony where Prince Charles and his sons were in attendance, 

and Prince Charles was wearing his medals on the left side of his chest as far as I am aware, you were medals you have earned on the left side of your chest and any

medals that have belonged to relatives of yours are worn on the right side of the chest. Can someone tell me if Prince Charles was in the military and did he actually

earn those medals.?

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4 hours ago, tso310 said:

I thought it was for taking part in golf tournaments. Don't the military have some of the best golf courses in the region. Hub for golf courses ?

I snuck onto the grounds of a local military golf course - because I just wanted to walk around.  the connecting paths between greens and tee-off places were 1 meter wide rubber mats, 1 inch thick.  We wouldn't want our esteemed generals to have a bumpy ride between holes, would we?

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I have no less than 3 Thai medals (none of them parachute wings!) that were awarded to me over the years in thanks for my volunteer police/translation work in Phuket.

 

On one occasion many years ago, I found myself in the Pattaya Courthouse on a charge of ... er ... doing something that I did not do.

 

The lazy (for indeed he was) police guy in charge of the Court did not appreciate when I pointed to one of the medals on his uniform and said in Thai "Hey, I've got one of those".

 

Sometimes, it is better not to speak the truth :smile:

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11 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

charles.jpg.acf7138591782aab1b78f2e3da4bfa1a.jpg"Say what now?"

 

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | What are Prince Charles's medals for?

 

"Unlike his brother Andrew, awarded the Falkland Islands medal, Prince Charles has not been decorated for active service in a war. Instead his honours are made up of awards for serving in a particular time or place, being a member of a high-ranking order or medals from other countries.

Starting with the bar of medals pinned to his breast, he has the Queen's Service Order (New Zealand), awarded in 1983; the Queen's Coronation medal, awarded in 1953 when he was four-years-old; the Queen's Silver Jubilee medal, awarded in 1977; the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal, awarded in 2002; the Canadian forces decoration, awarded in 2002; and the New Zealand commemorative medal, awarded in 1990.

 

 

   

Some, like the coronation and jubilee awards, mark the fact that he was present for these events and ceremonies. The golden jubilee medal was awarded to all serving personnel of five years standing.

 

Below those, the large silver star with the cross of St George in the centre shows he is a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. This was awarded in 1958 when he was nominated as the Prince of Wales.

The white enamelled Maltese Cross at his neck is the GCB, worn as Grand Master and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, a military version of the honour awarded in 1974.

And on the right is the red enamelled Order of Merit, civil version, awarded in 2002".

 

Military Career - The Prince of Wales

 

 

 

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8 hours ago, rodney earl said:

As a vietnam veteran the wearing of all of these medals and regalia really annoys me.!! I recently saw a ceremony where Prince Charles and his sons were in attendance, 

and Prince Charles was wearing his medals on the left side of his chest as far as I am aware, you were medals you have earned on the left side of your chest and any

medals that have belonged to relatives of yours are worn on the right side of the chest. Can someone tell me if Prince Charles was in the military and did he actually

earn those medals.?

 

See previous post.

 

 

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14 hours ago, Formaleins said:

Most of those ribbons on the white uniformed Thai uniforms are not for military decoration, they are there to mark their achievements;

 

Brown - Able to wipe one's bottom unassisted.

 

Blue - Being Able to do joined up writing.

 

Green - Being able to grovel like a harping seal on the floor in presence of superiors.

 

Gold- Finding their way to and from work on time.

 

Wings - Accomplished boarding an aircraft without a concealed weapon (or at least not getting caught)

Look at the lowliest ranked policeman, soldier or civil servant and they will have a couple of rows of ribbons. What on earth can they be for? Thailand has not been involved in any wars, only the continual rumbling in the south. My father went through 6 years of WWII in North Africa and Burma, and ended up with just 3 medals 39-45 Star, Africa Star and Burma Star. The Thai award system is a mystery.

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13 hours ago, rodney earl said:

As a vietnam veteran the wearing of all of these medals and regalia really annoys me.!! I recently saw a ceremony where Prince Charles and his sons were in attendance, 

and Prince Charles was wearing his medals on the left side of his chest as far as I am aware, you were medals you have earned on the left side of your chest and any

medals that have belonged to relatives of yours are worn on the right side of the chest. Can someone tell me if Prince Charles was in the military and did he actually

earn those medals.?

Yes he was in the military and (if I remember correctly) he was in the Falkland war. One of his jobs as a helicopter pilot/co pilot was to fly his helicopter off the ship, if a missile was detected targeting the ship. The theory was that the missile would be confused and head towards the ascending helicopter.

(I'm old, so this may be mind fiction, but that's how I remember it.)

SORRY. Seems I am wrong, from another post.....it was his brother. ?

Edited by carlyai
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13 hours ago, rodney earl said:

As a vietnam veteran the wearing of all of these medals and regalia really annoys me.!! I recently saw a ceremony where Prince Charles and his sons were in attendance, 

and Prince Charles was wearing his medals on the left side of his chest as far as I am aware, you were medals you have earned on the left side of your chest and any

medals that have belonged to relatives of yours are worn on the right side of the chest. Can someone tell me if Prince Charles was in the military and did he actually

earn those medals.?

Prince Charles served in the Royal Navy ending his career as captain of the mine hunter HMS Bronington. He wasn't involved in any military action during that time.

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He who fights and runs away,lives to run another day.....got my VC like that

 

   Well not quite,bag packed off to Aden   called off as boarding 'plane...then N Ireland   bailed out as the shootin' started

Edited by teddog
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                  There are many unsung heroes, many of whom do things for the sake of doing good.  Often there are no witnesses or video tape.   

 

                 Once, while driving a p.u. truck in California, it was the end of a long drought, I noticed some bit of flame down a hillside.  I stopped the truck, charged down the hill with a shovel, and put out a fire which, by the time I got there, had spread to about 30 sq. ft.  (someone may have tossed a cig).   It's an area where fast-moving fires sometimes burn hundreds of acres and take down dozens of houses.

 

                   Then there are those, like Prince Charles, who get gaudy expensive baubles to pin on their chests, just for showing up at an event.  .....or sometimes for doing nothing at all.

 

                       I had a friend in California (now deceased) who organized a community event. It was a smallish town, so everyone knew everyone.  It was a free event.  Everyone, as they entered, was asked to write their name and 3 things about themselves on a ledger - things which they felt they excelled at, or were good at.

 

                          The 1st half of the time in the theater, there was local entertainment on the stage.  At the same time, several staffers were backstage, busily filling in the blanks of pre-printed certificates of achievement.   The 2nd half of the show, was awarding certificates to people in attendance.  Some gave acceptance speeches, if they weren't too shy to speak to a crowd.  It was a blast for all.   Only the organizers knew, beforehand, about the awards ceremony.

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15 hours ago, rodney earl said:

As a vietnam veteran the wearing of all of these medals and regalia really annoys me.!! I recently saw a ceremony where Prince Charles and his sons were in attendance, 

and Prince Charles was wearing his medals on the left side of his chest as far as I am aware, you were medals you have earned on the left side of your chest and any

medals that have belonged to relatives of yours are worn on the right side of the chest. Can someone tell me if Prince Charles was in the military and did he actually

earn those medals.?

Charles was a naval officer he commanded a minesweeper for a couple of years. His medals are not all military some are orders of chivalry.

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1 hour ago, DougSunee said:

Charles was a naval officer he commanded a minesweeper for a couple of years. His medals are not all military some are orders of chivalry.

Well earned I'm sure.

And the lovely Princess Anne?? Certainly no chivalry or civility there?

 

58f6e09ce4ce3_princessanne.jpg.005cbd398dfd7c2f37941c5e0ffaab22.jpg

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20 hours ago, Grauwulf said:

When I first arrived I a few years ago I thought the teachers were in the Navy!! Yup after some checking they were wearing surplus US Navy tan uniforms and even some of the ribbons were actually US campaign ribbons!!! I was told that the ribbons were for achievement in the educational field......??????

"achievement in the educational field"

 

Could only be 'in anticipation of!'

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