... is that a black guy there?

Oh right, Europe.

What huge balls may look like.

/So heavy she needs a walker.

What about David Cross winners?

pag1107: Cythraul: What's a 'Victoria Cross,' and a 'George Cross?' I'm assuming that's like like the U.S. Medal of Honor, or something.

(scans article)

Yep.

Victoria Cross ~ Medal of Honor
George Cross ~ Medal of Freedom

Not quite, the George Cross and Victoria Cross are both gallantry medals. The VC is awarded for actions in combat, the GC is awarded for actions outside of combat. Military personnel sometimes get the GC for bravery if they weren't in contact with the enemy at the time of the event.

The Medal of Freedom is a lifetime achievement award, more like the British honors system (MBE, OBE etc).

Kinda like the list of "Greatest Jewish Sports Heroes".

/i'm joking

Cythraul: What's a 'Victoria Cross,' and a 'George Cross?' I'm assuming that's like like the U.S. Medal of Honor, or something.

(scans article)

Yep.

I'd rank the VC as harder to get than the CMH. George Cross a little less.

Prince Charles holds the Silver Cross of Panties and Garters.
Honorary, of course.

The VC is still reckoned as the hardest medal of its type to earn.

Particularly if you enjoy living long enough to attend the ceremony and still possessing body parts capable of being adorned.

That doesn't negate the merit of the medals of other countries, nor the gallantry in war and peace that is never seen or acknowledged (meaning "probably most").

Some interesting traditions:

"As the highest award for valour of the United Kingdom, the Victoria Cross is always the first award to be presented at an investiture, even before knighthoods, as was shown at the investiture of Private Johnson Beharry who received his medal before General Sir Mike Jackson received his knighthood.[16] Due to its status, the VC is always the first decoration worn in a row of medals and it is the first set of post-nominal letters used to indicate any decoration or order.[3] Similar acts of extreme valour that do not take place in the face of the enemy are honoured with the George Cross, which has equal precedence but is awarded second because the GC is newer.[2]

There is a widespread though erroneous belief that it is statutory for "all ranks to salute a bearer of the Victoria Cross". There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders, but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a Private awarded a VC or GC.[2]"

All these comparisons to the Medal of Honor aren't 100% accurate, but so what? If you do something that even puts you up for consideration for a MoH, VC, GC, or any other country's equivalent, then you're going to need to pre-register your balls with the TSA before you buy a plane ticket.

HotIgneous Intruder: Prince Charles holds the Silver Cross of Panties and Garters.
Honorary, of course.

With Love Tampon cluster.

Holy Crap! This guy is absolutely amazing, first time I have ever heard about it and I'm stunned.

Peter Norton
From Wikipedia:
"A captain at the time, he was second-in-command of the American Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell (CEXC) based in the outskirts of Baghdad. Going to the aid of a United States Army patrol that had been attacked by an improvised explosive device (IED) on 24 July 2005, he was checking for the presence of further devices when a secondary victim-operated IED exploded. He lost his left leg and part of his left arm, and he sustained serious injuries to his other leg and lower back. Despite his injuries, he continued to give instructions to his team, suspecting that further devices might be in the vicinity. He refused to be evacuated until he was certain that all personnel on the ground were aware of the danger. A third device was subsequently located and dealt with the following day.

The award was gazetted in a supplement to the London Gazette of 24 March 2006.[2] Since his team contained two special agents of the FBI, Norton was also awarded the FBI Star on 27 March 2009.[3]"

I know it's probably due to whatever the medals are pinned on, but this has all the hallmarks of a photoshop.

Valiente:


There is a widespread though erroneous belief that it is statutory for "all ranks to salute a bearer of the Victoria Cross". There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders, but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a Private awarded a VC or GC.[2]"


Those of us of a certain age got this from reading "Tupper, VC"

Cythraul:

Isn't the CMH the hardest medal to get in the U.S.? What the hell do you have to do in order to get the VC?

Crawl through fire to save a crewman? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Mynarski

Stare down a machine-gun-firing Panzer at 30 feet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Smith

Land a flaming plane in the freezing ocean after killing a U-Boat? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ernest_Hornell

And that's just some of the Canadians from WWII. We learn about these guys in school.

The common theme seems to have evolved not just in a notable manner of offing the enemy against all odds, but in also screening and saving your wounded comrades or crew.

Seriously, cross-check "Badass of the Week" with "Victoria Cross". Some of these stories would be laughable if they weren't fully verified, sometimes from the records of the enemy du jour, who did not grasp the size of the can of righteous whoopass opened.

Oh, and GRAAAARGH!!!

Medal of Honor.
Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

zez: I know it's probably due to whatever the medals are pinned on, but this has all the hallmarks of a photoshop.

[i.dailymail.co.uk image 310x450]

Victoria Cross (VC)
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975
Korea Medal
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
General Service Medal (1962)
Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Centenary Medal
Defence Force Service Medal with 2 clasps
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - Army (UK)
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Silver Star (USA)
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (South Vietnam)
Vietnam Campaign Medal (South Vietnam)
Dhofar Campaign Medal (Oman)
Dhofar Victory Medal (Oman)
Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysia)

tobcc: RexTalionis: You'd think there would be at least some gurkhas in that group.

Read much?

Captain Rambahadur Limbu VC - Gurkha, Indonesia 1965



No... but he can count to potato.

zez: I know it's probably due to whatever the medals are pinned on, but this has all the hallmarks of a photoshop.

[i.dailymail.co.uk image 310x450]

Yeah ... NO.

Valiente: Stare down a machine-gun-firing Panzer at 30 feet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Smith

Never would I have thought a sentence like that could be an understatement, but... wow. That's unreal.

If someone did what he did in BF:1942 people would be calling hacks on him.

zez: I know it's probably due to whatever the medals are pinned on, but this has all the hallmarks of a photoshop.

[i.dailymail.co.uk image 310x450]

Yeah, they're on a ribbon/medal rack. It's just a long version of the same thing military-types use to keep their ribbons in line. Ever wonder how the umpteen dozen ribbons on all those Chiefs of Staff stay on straight? You do now.

What's all this then?

It also helps that you are a real-life version of Rambo, except more awesome in every possible way.

Meet Ben Roberts-Smith


Read wikipedia's article to see how awesome that guy is.

GreatBunzinni: Read wikipedia's article to see how awesome that guy is.

Military citations are hilarious to read sometimes: "Roberts-Smith engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent."

They read like small-town police reports. Nothing against the actions, the dude's a prime-grade badass, it's just that the citations are brilliantly oblivious to themselves.

FTFA: As the world prepares for the Diamond Jubilee this weekend,

Sorry, England, but no.

Valiente: Cythraul:

Isn't the CMH the hardest medal to get in the U.S.? What the hell do you have to do in order to get the VC?

Crawl through fire to save a crewman? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Mynarski

Stare down a machine-gun-firing Panzer at 30 feet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Smith

Land a flaming plane in the freezing ocean after killing a U-Boat? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ernest_Hornell

And that's just some of the Canadians from WWII. We learn about these guys in school.

The common theme seems to have evolved not just in a notable manner of offing the enemy against all odds, but in also screening and saving your wounded comrades or crew.

Seriously, cross-check "Badass of the Week" with "Victoria Cross". Some of these stories would be laughable if they weren't fully verified, sometimes from the records of the enemy du jour, who did not grasp the size of the can of righteous whoopass opened.

Sounds a lot like CMoH criteria.

mightybaldking: Cythraul: What's a 'Victoria Cross,' and a 'George Cross?' I'm assuming that's like like the U.S. Medal of Honor, or something.

(scans article)

Yep.

I'd rank the VC as harder to get than the CMH. George Cross a little less.

*checks country in profile*

Would you say that was a...problem?

Jeremy Clarkson presented a show on the subject of just how hard it is to earn the VC (pops).

It really is well worth a watch, and you can probably find it on Youtube somewhere. Astounding stories.

Pappas: FTFA: As the world prepares for the Diamond Jubilee this weekend,

Sorry, England, but no.

You do realize that she's the queen of nearly 1/3 of the world's population, right?

Valiente: The VC is still reckoned as the hardest medal of its type to earn.

Particularly if you enjoy living long enough to attend the ceremony and still possessing body parts capable of being adorned.

That doesn't negate the merit of the medals of other countries, nor the gallantry in war and peace that is never seen or acknowledged (meaning "probably most").

Some interesting traditions:

"As the highest award for valour of the United Kingdom, the Victoria Cross is always the first award to be presented at an investiture, even before knighthoods, as was shown at the investiture of Private Johnson Beharry who received his medal before General Sir Mike Jackson received his knighthood.[16] Due to its status, the VC is always the first decoration worn in a row of medals and it is the first set of post-nominal letters used to indicate any decoration or order.[3] Similar acts of extreme valour that do not take place in the face of the enemy are honoured with the George Cross, which has equal precedence but is awarded second because the GC is newer.[2]

There is a widespread though erroneous belief that it is statutory for "all ranks to salute a bearer of the Victoria Cross". There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders, but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a Private awarded a VC or GC.[2]"

*checks country in profile, again*

Oh, what a shock. Quite the...problem?

Mock26: zez: I know it's probably due to whatever the medals are pinned on, but this has all the hallmarks of a photoshop.

[i.dailymail.co.uk image 310x450]

Victoria Cross (VC)
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975
Korea Medal
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
General Service Medal (1962)
Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Centenary Medal
Defence Force Service Medal with 2 clasps
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - Army (UK)
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Silver Star (USA)
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (South Vietnam)
Vietnam Campaign Medal (South Vietnam)
Dhofar Campaign Medal (Oman)
Dhofar Victory Medal (Oman)
Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysia)

Wow. Not only the VC, but the second-highest and fourth-highest medals the US has.

Hyppy: GreatBunzinni: Read wikipedia's article to see how awesome that guy is.

Military citations are hilarious to read sometimes: "Roberts-Smith engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent."

They read like small-town police reports. Nothing against the actions, the dude's a prime-grade badass, it's just that the citations are brilliantly oblivious to themselves.

Heh - "he effectively used his sniper rifle to stop their advance." I guess that's a way of sanitizing "he shot them down like dogs."

Like the MoH citation for Roy Benevidez: "While carrying his wounded comrade, he killed his adversary" sounds a little nicer than "he shot the VC in the face with a .45, blowing out his brains."

Samuel Johnson said "Every man wonders if he would have the courage to stand on the firing line." Reading these citations makes you ponder that observation.

steerforth: Hyppy: Pappas: FTFA: As the world prepares for the Diamond Jubilee this weekend,

Sorry, England, but no.

You do realize that she's the queen of nearly 1/3 of the world's population, right?

Probably not, because she's not queen of nearly a third of the world's population. It is still an interesting cultural event/throwback to ancient history/evil feudal remnant/last gasp of the aristocracy, non?

Check it out, everyone. steerforth has singlehandedly disbanded the Commonwealth of Nations. Grats!

GreatBunzinni: It also helps that you are a real-life version of Rambo, except more awesome in every possible way.

Meet Ben Roberts-Smith
[images.theage.com.au image 420x293]

Read wikipedia's article to see how awesome that guy is.

I can see how awesome he is from the picture.