Honoring Military Service

Harki is the term used for Muslim Algerian loyalists who served as Auxiliaries in the French Army during the Algerian War from 1954 to 1962. Here is an image of a stamp honoring the Harki soldiers of France, designed by Michel Clave, printed by photogravure, and issued by France on December 9, 1989, Scott No. 2178, Y&T No. 2613, plus a YouTube link to a controversial film documentary (in French) about the Harkis.

- nethryk

Colombia. Batallon Colombia en Corea.
20 years of Colombia Battalion in Korea

LT1246 COP 1.20 Regular mail. 2.000.000 pcs.
Dent. 13.5 x 14
Printer: De la Rue de Colombia
Designer: Mosdossy
FDC 07.04.1972

From Wikipedia

The Colombia Battalion[edit]

Colombia was the only Latin American country participating with the United Nations Forces in Korea. A frigate, the ARC Almirante Padilla and an infantry battalion with 1080 men was sent to join the UN Forces in August 1951. The presence of the Colombian ground forces had been awarded for their exemplary performance in previous fighting and combat, Operations Nomad, Thunderbolt, Climber (Hill 400) and Barbula (Hill 180) with Presidential United Citations from the United States and South Korea and U.S. Legion of Merit, Silver Stars and Bronze Stars awarded to the men...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Old_Baldy




During the Korean War, some 4,314 troops of the Colombian Army (21% of the total force) served with the Colombia Battalion in the United Nations Command. The initial contingent of troops transported to Korea aboard the USNS Aiken Victory. Once in-country, the Colombia Battalion received training and then joined the American 21st Infantry Regiment on 1 August 1951. It was engaged in battle during Operation Nomadic, for which the battalion received a Presidential Unit Citation. In 1952, as the 21st Infantry Regiment redeployed, the Colombia Battalion was transferred to the 31st Infantry Regiment. The battalion was greatly involved in the Battle of Old Baldy. Colombian soldiers killed in action were sometimes cremated at the United Nations Cemetery in Tanggok and repatriated in 1954.[3] Overall, the Colombian Army lost 141 soldiers by death and suffered 556 battle injuries, plus 69 MIA.



January 1952. The Colombia Battalion No. 1, joins the US 7th Infantry División, 21st Regiment "Polar Bears".

Happy Birthday to Jean Bart (1650-1702), a French naval commander and privateer who, despite the circumstances of his "low" (non-noble) birth, nevertheless achieved high rank in the French Navy because of his bravery, fighting skills and many victories in sea battles. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Admiral Bart, designed by French artist Maurice George-Élie Lalau (1881-1961), engraved by Jacques Combet (1920-1993), and issued by France on June 7, 1958, Scott No. B322, Y&T No. 1167, plus an image of a portrait (1840) of Jean Bart in armor, by Italian-born French painter Tito Marzocchi de Bellucci (1801-1871), which may have been the model for this stamp's design.

- nethryk

Here are images of two stamps honoring Luxembourgian Maquis resistance fighters, and civilians executed by the German occupation military administration during World War II, designed by Luxembourg artist Auguste Nicolas Trémont (1892-1980), printed by photogravure (Courvoisier, S.A.), and issued by Luxembourg on December 20, 1947 as two of a set of four semi-postal (charity) stamps benefiting the National Welfare Fund, Scott Nos. B127 & B130.

- nethryk

Pietro Micca (1677-1706) was a Piedmontese soldier, tunneler and bricklayer who became a national hero for sacrificing his life during the defense of the citadel of Turin by exploding barrels of gunpowder to stop an underground attack by French grenadiers. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Micca lighting the fateful fuse, designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Ascari (1939- ), printed by photogravure, and issued by Italy on March 5, 1977 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Micca's birth, Scott No. 1256, plus an image of a painting with a traditional representation of Pietro Micca's heroic deed.

- nethryk

Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza (1761-1805) was a Basque Spanish nobleman, an Admiral (posthumous) of the Royal Spanish Armada, scientist and Mayor of Mutriku, who was killed in action during the Battle of Trafalgar (October 21, 1805) while commanding the Spanish ship of the line San Juan Nepomuceno. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Cosme Damián de Churruca and a sailing ship, engraved by Pablo Sampedro Molero (1935- ), and issued by Spain on March 1, 1976, Scott No. 1933, Edifil No. 2308, plus images of a painted profile portrait of Cosme Damián de Churruca which may have been a model (in mirror image) for this stamp's design, and of an oil on canvas painting entitled Muerte de Churruca by Spanish artist Eugenio Álvarez Dumont (1864-1927).

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting Moroccan soldiers and the armed forces flag of French Morocco, designed by Alexandre Delpy, engraved by Raoul Serres (1881-1971), and issued for use in French Morocco in 1949 to benefit Army Welfare Work, Scott No. B43.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp depicting a soldier, a sailor, an airman, and a fallen soldier, designed by Italian artist Giovanni Savini, and issued by Italy on April 24, 1965 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Italian military resistance to the occupying German army, Scott No. 904.

- nethryk

Here are images of the two stamps in a set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the National People's Army, designed by German artist Hillmar Zill (1940- ), printed by photogravure, and issued by East Germany (DDR) on January 27, 1981, Scott Nos. 2158 & 2159, Michel Nos. 2580 & 2581. These stamps depict, respectively, the dedication of the National Commemorative Plaza, Sachsenhausen, and the changing of the guard.

- nethryk

Salvo D'Acquisto (1920-1943) was a member of the Italian Carabinieri during the Second World War who was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor and is being considered for beatification for sacrificing himself to save 22 civilians from being executed by German soldiers. Here is an image of a stamp honoring the hero, designed by Italian artist Silvano "Nano" Campeggi (1923- ) after a detail from an illustration of this fateful event by Vittorio Pisani (1899-1974), printed by photogravure, and issued by Italy on September 23, 1975, Scott No. 1199, plus images of Pisani's original artwork and of a photograph of Salvo D'Acquisto.

- nethryk

Happy Birthday to Karol Waclaw Swierczewski (1897-1947), callsign "Walter," an ethnic Pole and Red Army general. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the general, designed by Jacek Konarzewski, engraved by Piotr Jerzy Naszarkowski, and issued by Poland on March 27, 1987, Scott No. 2795, plus a photograph of General broni (= "Lieutenant General") Swierczewski in uniform.

- nethryk

Here are images of the two se-tenant stamps plus a label commemorating the 40th anniversary of Liberation, designed by French artist Raymond Moretti (1931-2005), combined engraved by Pierre Béquet (1932-2012) and photogravure, and issued by France on May 8, 1984, Scott Nos. 1930a, 1929 & 1930, Y&T Nos. 2313A, 2312 & 2313.

- nethryk



Résitance


The Order of Liberation, awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II.


Allied Landings

Here are images of the three engraved stamps in a set honoring soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army returning from Korea, and issued by China (People's Republic) on November 20, 1958, Scott Nos. 382-84. Bonus: Tanks.

- nethryk

Chinese and North Korean soldiers.


North Korean woman embracing Chinese soldier.


Chinese girl presenting flowers to returning soldier.

Bertrand du Guesclin (c. 1314 or 1320-1380), nicknamed "The Eagle of Brittany" or "The Black Dog of Brocéliande," was a Breton knight and French military commander during the Hundred Years' War who served as Constable of France from 1370 to his death. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp honoring Bertrand du Guesclin, designed by Charles Mazelin (1882-1964), engraved by Jean Pheulpin (1907-1991), and issued by France on May 20, 1961, Scott No. B350, Y&T No. 1295, plus an image of a painting of Jean de Grailly (dismounted, on the right) surrendering to Bertrand du Guesclin at the Battle of Cocherel, fought on May 16, 1364 between the forces of Charles V of France and the forces of Charles II of Navarre, over the succession to the dukedom of Burgundy.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting the helmeted heads of three Allied soldiers: British, French (African Colonial) and American, die engraved by Charles Hervé, printed by lithography, and issued for use in Tunisia in 1943 to commemorate Liberation, Scott No. B78.

- nethryk