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DUTCH BRONZE LION |
The following men of the 508th
were awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion in Royal Decree Number 31 dated October
8, 1945. The medals were presented by Mr. Meijnen , the Dutch Minister
of War, in late 1945 at the Tempelhof airport in Berlin. [This
presentation may have coincided with the 508th Presidential Honor Guard duties
on July 18, 1945- See
photo of that day, use BACK to return..]
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SURNAME |
GIVEN |
RANK |
COMPANY |
YEAR |
AUTH |
G.O. |
Bell |
Glenn |
S/Sgt. |
Co F |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Combs |
Rex G. |
1/Lt. |
Co A |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Holmes |
Otho E. |
L/Col. |
Hq 2nd. |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Hupp |
Robert W. |
T/5 |
Co C |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Mendez |
Louis G., Jr. |
L/Col. |
Hq 3rd |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Risnes |
Marvin L. |
Sgt. |
Co G |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Warren |
Shields, Jr. |
L/Col. |
Hq 1st |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
Wilde |
Russell C. |
Capt. |
Co H |
1945 |
82d |
GO 126 |
As the result of a second
royal decree, number 11, dated Feb. 22, 1946 one other member of the 508th
was awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion.
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Surname |
Given |
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Rank |
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Lindquist |
Roy E. |
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Colonel |
? |
? |
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Bronze Lion was installed in 1944 by the Dutch Government in exile and
is a military award. It will be given to service personnel who served the
Dutch State in actual combat against the enemies of the state and demonstrated
exceptional bravery and meritorious acts. The Bronze Lion can also be awarded
to Dutch Civilians and to foreigners.
The minister of Defence will be noted through the proper military channels.
A special committee checks the events and shall advise the Minister of Defence
if an award is appropriate and if so it will mention which award shall be
given. After positive advice, the Minister of Defence makes a written proposal
to the Dutch Crown, who shall award the medal by Royal Decree.
Since 1944 1,210 awardees have received the Bronze Lion.
The award is a cross in bronze on a circular shield. The front is a crowned
Dutch Lion. The reverse is plain. The cross is hanging below a ribbon of 37
millimeter width, divided in 9 equal vertical lanes, coloured orange and 'Nassau
blue', the outward lanes are both blue.
A second award will be noted by an Arabic figure '2' in gold on the ribbon
of the Bronze Lion. A next award will be noted by a '3' etc. Only 8 awardees
received the figure 2. None have received the 3 or higher awards..
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NOTE: Some
of this material, including the translation of the criteria for award text,
was provided by Dutch Army Reserves officer, Major
Herman Vaalburg.
Read excerpts of his correspondence.
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