Republic of Namibia Police Campaign Medal

Edward J. Emering

South Africa occupied the former German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and adminis- tered it as a Mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area which they referred to as Namibia. In 1988 South Africa agreed to end its control of the territory in accordance with a United Nations’ peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won its independence on March 21, 1990 with Windoek as its capital. It has been governed by SWAPO ever since. It joined the United Nations on April 17, 1990.

The Namibian Defense Force (NDF) includes its army, which has an air wing, navy and police. Civilian police personnel have served as part of both the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) and the

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), which terminated during December 2005 and was suc- ceeded by the United Nations Integrated Office for Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL).

Figure 1: Obverse of the Police Campaign Medal.

The obverse (Figure 1) of the 34mm five-pointed gilt

star features the head of a male lion in its center. The reverse (Figure 2) features the Namibian coat-of-arms a diagonally segmented shield with a 12-rayed sun in the upper right portion, supported by an upright Oryx on either side and surmounted by six lozenges and a Sea Eagle with its wings displayed and below the shield, a Namibian sand dune with a desert flower and a banner containing the motto, UNITY LIBERTY JUSTICE in English. Above the coat-of-arms is the curved inscription, CAMPAIGN and below it the straight line inscription POL NO. The planchet is mounted on a stylized straight suspension bar with a 12-rayed sun in the center.

Figure 2: Reverse of the Police Campaign Medal.

Figure 3: Gilt bar for EAST TIMOR.

Figure 4: Gilt bar for SIERRA LEONE.

The medal is currently issued in addition to any United Nations mission medal with the "sew on" gilt bars, EAST TIMOR (Figure 3) and SIERRA LEONE (Figure 4). Each bar measures 32mm by 7mm.

Special thanks to Mads Rasmussen of Denmark.

Vol. 58, No. 4 35

The St. Michael’s Medal

Edward J. Emering

The European Military Parachutists Association (EMPA) was formed at the non-commissioned officer’s quarters of the 34th Fighter Bomber Squadron at the German Air Base in Memmingen on October 2, 1998. Its original members included 13 soldiers, policemen and reservists from eight different nations.

Today the EMPA is based in Rosenheim, Germany. His Imperial and Royal Highness Karl yon Habsburg, grandson of Karl I of Austria, serves as honorary president of the association. Lieutenant General Gerard Fritz of France is the actual president. Membership currently is approximately 1,100 soldiers, policemen and reservists from 29 nations. The organization sponsors a number of joint events, including parachute jumps and shooting matches, while at all times fostering international friendship and camaraderie. This friendship is at the very core of the new international coalitions assembled for peacekeepin, g activities around the world.

I discovered the EMPA during my research of the medals associated with peacekeeping activities in the Balkans (The Decorations and Medals of Peacekeeping in the Balkans 1992-2005, OMSA Monograph No. 18) and Afghanistan and Iraq for future works. I had noticed a number of Austrian airborne troops wearing the medal on their basic dress utility uniforms (BDUs) and I set about to discover more about the medal. It is not uncommon for military personnel of several European countries to wear sporting medals on their BDUs. Sergeant First Class Adelbert Schoemer, who is also a Colonel in the famous Legion of Frontiersman and serves as Vice President of the EMPA, very graciously introduced me to the organi- zation and its goals. In addition to the previously stated purposes, the organization also has a charitable goal and contributes regularly to needy causes such as the school- ing of orphans in India, cancer research and assistance for comrades-in-need.

The most recognizable symbol of the organization beyond its series of distinctive jump badges, for both automatic opening system and manual opening jumps, is the St. Michael’s Medal. St. Michael the Archangel, who is charged in Christian theology with leading the battle against the devil, is the patron saint of parachutists and every year in both France and Germany, a festival of parachutists is held.

Figure 1: Obverse of the St. Michael’s Medal.

Figure 2: Reverse of the St. Michael’s Medal.

36 JOMSA

The center of the medal’s obverse (Figure 1) features a winged Saint Michael smiting the devil with his spear with four military parachutists with deployed round canopies in the background. The obverse is inscribed, SANCTE MICHAEL curved around the top and eRA PRO NOBIS, Latin for ’Pray for Us,’ curved around the bottom. The reverse (Figure 2) features the distinctive EMPA jump badge in the center with EUROPEAN MILITARY, curved around the top edge and PARACHUTISTS ASSOCIATION curved around the bottom edge. The presentation of the medal, which comes in both gilt and a silver finishes, is accompanied by two certificates (Figure 3) signed by His

Excellency, Military Bishop Dr. Walter Mixa, of Germany and His Excellency, Military Bishop Christian Werner of Austria. The medals were blessed on August 30, 2003 by Military Dean Rasser at the Saalfelden Garrison in Austria during the EMPA’s second Mountain and Parachuting Combat Competition.

The organization also issues a series of honor or service related awards. You can learn more about this interesting organization on the following web site: http://europeanparatrooper.de/europeanparatrooper_en/ menu_page/page_all.php?hp2_nav id+l.

Know All Men By These Presents: That the

European Military Parachutists Association Association Europ6enne de Parachutisme Militaire

hereby confers unto

the

St. Michael’s Medal May St. Michael always protect us

AD CORINTHIOS EPISTULA I SANCTI PAULI APOSTOLI 15,58

Itaque, fratres mei dilecti, stabiles estote, immobiles, abundantes in opere Domini semper, scientes quod labor

Place / Fait ~ Date Military E~ishop Eplscopus Mltltum

Dr.Walter Mixa

Figure 3: One of the certificates accompanying the St. Michael’s Medal.

In the News

Navajo Code Talker Dies

Stewart Clah, a Navajo code talker during World War II died April 28, 2007 at his home in Tse’ Daa’ Kaan, New Mexico at the age of 87. He served in Midway, Saipan, Guam and Guadalcanal. For his service he was presented a Congressional Gold Medal. Each of the 29 original Navajo code talkers were presented with Congressional

Gold medals, and the over 300 other Navajos who qualified as code talkers received Congressional Silver Medals.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer Submitted by William J. Wilson, Jr.

Vol. 58, No. 4 37