Another medals question. Are the: Southern Cross of Honor--still awarded?

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the ringo kid

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I was wondering if anyone known if the Southern Cross of Honor--are still awarded to American soldiers from Southern States?I know some were still awarded at least through the Korean War because Colonel Joseph G. Clemmons Jr.got one and he told me about it.

Southern Crosses of Honor had been given to military personnel who fought in overseas wars. These crosses were awarded by their home States and these I THINK? are made of Bronze. The Imperial German: Hindenburg Cross--looks almost exactly like it. The Southern Cross of Honor--on one side--has the Confederate battle flag on it--im not sure what the other side has on it? Perhaps the recipients name?? Anyway,I THINK these had been awarded since the end of the Civil War.

Anyway,does anyone here know if any state is still awarding these State awards to any military personnel?
 
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The Daughters of the Confederacy award the Cross of Military Service, and some other recognitions as noted below (from their web site). The Cross of Honor was only for actual veterans. The residence of the person to be honored is not relevant. Not mentioned anymore on their page, there were awards also for WWI.

Your friend may have been given an award by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I'm not familiar with theirs.

The Cross of Military Service, an outgrowth of the Southern Cross of Honor, is presented to veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict and the Global War on Terror who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel.

The National Defense Medal is presented to veterans who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who served a minimum of 90 days in the Korean War or the Vietnam Conflict but not in country/on land/in airspace/in waters contiguous thereto or in the Persian Gulf War.

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is presented to veterans who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who served a minimum of 90 days in the U.S. Armed Forces with service of at least 30 days in U.S. Military Operations, U.S. Military Operations in Direct Support of United Nations, or U.S. Operations of Assistance for Friendly Foreign Nations after July 1, 1958.

The Pioneer in Space Award is presented to men and women who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who have flown in space.

The Meritorious Service Award is presented to veterans who are collateral descendants of Confederate military personnel and who have given military service to our country in certain timeframes.
 
Wiki claims that they were given by the daughters of the Confederacy to CSA veterans, the last of which died in 1951.

That is correct, although the date of the last one issued may have been much earlier. They also provided metal grave markers for the recipients, but most have been vandalized or stolen. Some years ago they did a program asking folks to report where they were still found.
 
The Daughters of the Confederacy award the Cross of Military Service, and some other recognitions as noted below (from their web site). The Cross of Honor was only for actual veterans. The residence of the person to be honored is not relevant. Not mentioned anymore on their page, there were awards also for WWI.

Your friend may have been given an award by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I'm not familiar with theirs.

The Cross of Military Service, an outgrowth of the Southern Cross of Honor, is presented to veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict and the Global War on Terror who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel.

The National Defense Medal is presented to veterans who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who served a minimum of 90 days in the Korean War or the Vietnam Conflict but not in country/on land/in airspace/in waters contiguous thereto or in the Persian Gulf War.

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is presented to veterans who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who served a minimum of 90 days in the U.S. Armed Forces with service of at least 30 days in U.S. Military Operations, U.S. Military Operations in Direct Support of United Nations, or U.S. Operations of Assistance for Friendly Foreign Nations after July 1, 1958.

The Pioneer in Space Award is presented to men and women who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate military personnel and who have flown in space.

The Meritorious Service Award is presented to veterans who are collateral descendants of Confederate military personnel and who have given military service to our country in certain timeframes.

Thank you for this wealth of info.I think im going to see if I can contact someone in their org and see if my Dad and various uncles can be eligable for one? I know we had several who fought under Southern arms in the CW.

One im aware of but not sure if other States have them--is a state version of a Medal of Honor. Ours is the Texas Medal of Honor.Audie Murphy got his finally.
 
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Didn't Ethan in THE SEARCHERS give Debbie his Cross of Honor when he first got home?

He did. His Cross of Honor was a "neck order"version--:::::meaning had a ribbon:::::: gold with emeralds in the arms. The Southern Cross is made of Bronze--or at least the earlier ones are--and doesnt have any jewels in it. The one Duke had in the movie--is a real award but--im not sure if its American at all. I THINK its Imperial German?? as it looks like one of theirs and looks like its a Saxon award. If so?it would be a Knights Cross of something or other. Few could get these outside royalty,Generals and Admirals and such.
 
Went and did a little digging and found this;

In the screenplay by Frank S. Nugent, the medal Ethan Edwards gives to Debbie is identified as "a gold medal or medallion" awarded by "Maximilian of Mexico" to mercenary soldiers who fought between 1865 and 1867 for the Emperor Maximilian's French forces. This medal implies Ethan served in the French Mexican Expedition during his three year absence and also explains his fluency in Spanish.

Amazing how you miss-remember things.
 
A depiction of The Southern Cross of Honor is found on the tombstones of Confederate Veterans.

My GrGr Grandfather, 1st Sgt Joshua Jefferson Harris, 59th Ga Volunteer Infantry. He served from the Gettysberg Campaign to the Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

IMG_0896.jpg
 
Went and did a little digging and found this;

In the screenplay by Frank S. Nugent, the medal Ethan Edwards gives to Debbie is identified as "a gold medal or medallion" awarded by "Maximilian of Mexico" to mercenary soldiers who fought between 1865 and 1867 for the Emperor Maximilian's French forces. This medal implies Ethan served in the French Mexican Expedition during his three year absence and also explains his fluency in Spanish.

Amazing how you miss-remember things.

That could be--They did copy their uniforms mostly after the French and some with German influence as well as some of their medals and neck orders. Anything Mexican related would be extremely rare.
 
Let him know that YES military service awards are given to descendants of Confederates who have served WWI to modern era!
From one of the female members in SC and VERY active in this area.

Im going to be contacting these various orgs and inquiring. Im also wondering if these can be presented to those who were related to someone serving. Reason on this is--that a Cousin of mine--being only child and never married___we met for the first time circa nineteen eight-yone--and she was ninety then. Her father--was a Colonel in the Confederate Cavalry--and lost a leg at Shiloh. Anyway, we were bestowed by her--whatevee property and such she had. As far as I know--this Colonel was the highest ranking member of our family on the Confederate side. The highest on the union side--was US Grant. His name was Sam Cooper. One of my great nephews is named after him.
 
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