Possible WW2 Medal?

So my father was digging thru his things and came across what appears to be a military medal, that his older brother had given him many years ago. Ive dont some searching online but couldnt find anything

I wonder, can anyone here tell me what this medal is? Or if its even real.

 

Dear JasonFC:

In first place, !


In second place, your award seems rare. Most of condecorations are a "croix" with four arms. And wich is the nationality of your father?

See at this link DES DECORATIONS ETRANGERES




Jan.

 

I will have to look this up, the croix de guerre has four branches not five. The fleur de Lys may show it could be French, but not necessarely. It could be american made with a French look.
Could it be a souvenir medal from the 82nd Airborne (H Minus) ?
The heraldry on each branch could be the bases they were stationed during the 1944-1966 period. Just a guess. The Lion is the symbol of Normandy, the fleur de Lys is more reprented in central and western France (Bourges, Angers etc..)

 

My father is American, or German descent. But We've been here since the atleast the early 1800s. He didnt fight in WW2, neither did my grandfather.. However, my Great Uncle fought in WW2 and is currently the oldest living WW2 vet in New York. He was in the Navy tho.

 

Relationated with my first link: http://perso.numericable.fr/~semoeric/LES DECORATIONS.htm





Jan.

 

Well it certainly is not an official US decoration. H-minus is the motto for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment . Comemorative perhaps?

 

Another idea. It could be a commerative medal which mentions five places where these men were parachuted. Therefore they could be local heraldry from norman towns. It would be interesting to see where they jumped and compare the herladry with these places

 

Dear JasonFC:

It's possible that you take a photo for the back of this piece?. Perhaps it has any mark interesting identificative of manufacturer or other type.



Jan.

 

There are no markings or brands on the back of the piece. Sadly, as it would help immensely in identification of the piece.

 

Does anyone know where the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment fought? If I have a name or two I could check the heraldry crests.

 

Look at this link, Skipper. I take a fast look and appears very interesting -H-Minus included- http://www.bragg.army.mil/afvc-c/History.htm






Jan.

 

Woohoo!!!

does the patch in the center look familiar?

If picture isn't showing up look here http://www.505rct.org/thebeginning.asp

I've given up on figuring out the heraldry but I think the "symbols" are called Helm, lion passant(or possibly a dog) fleur de lis, and I guess the other is a castle with a lion passant above. I know nothing about heraldry and figuring it out is about as complex as learning latin so maybe someone else can share their wealth of knowledge on the subject.

By the quality and material I would guess it was produced on the local (state/department/province etc)level as opposed to a nationally sponsered award. That's a 100% uneducated gueess on my part so someone smack me if thats a ridiculous assumption.

 

The rampant lion might be the 28th Infantry Regiment. Their official emblem is very similar. That unit also fought in Normandy and Europe.

 

I confirm NORMANDY (Falaise? ) the Lion is the Norman symbol . The smaller Lion looks like a Dutch province Heraldry, possibly Zealand (Walcheren? ) . I will compare more crests and see what I can find.

 

When I looked at it, I did not think it could be WW2 timeframe. So I searched and found this, looks like the H-Minus and the Lion shield to me (?)

http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/treasureit/iteml/18220#pic1
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/treasureit/item/18220

 

I sent this question to the guys at the 505 Regimental Combat Team and they've been very helpful in looking into the medal. The following is what they have come up with.

 

I still suspect that all of the badges shown are US (or possibly Commonwealth) hearldry in orgin. The Fleur de Leise is a very common element in US Army unit badges. The castle could be from an engineering unit, again a very common element.
If indeed this is the case, the 505th Parachute and 28th Infantry are identified, both being in Normandy. Possibly researching where these two units fought together there might yield further information on the other badges shown.

 

Iagree, except the Fleur de Lys. I doubt Leclerc's 2nd Harbour divison used this Royal symbol and I don't think it's American either . Leclerc had a blue and white map of france and a Lorraine cross in a square as a symbol. I still think the felur de lys is a town crest.

 

I atached a photo of a similiar medal this on has a portugese phrase Im a 505th Veteran and have never seen the H-minus crest with this design. Hope someone can help with Identification and some history on it.