Military Medal Assistance Needed

[Candor]

About 8 years ago my grandpa passed away, up until then a box of "stuff" has been in the closet just collecting dust. It accidentally got knocked over and now I've been browsing and trying to find out just what I have.



On the front of the medal are the words, Croix de Sanforized

The literal translation means Cross of clothes that won't shrink. I know he was in WW II as far as battles and jobs he had my family cannot recall.

Anyone have clues or know where I can dig deeper?

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[Drink]

I believe that is the French equivalent of a Bronze Star.

[inchoate]

Originally Posted by Drink

I believe that is the French equivalent of a Bronze Star.

do you win that by waiting five whole minutes before surrendering?

[saltYmirv]

Originally Posted by inchoate

do you win that by waiting five whole minutes before surrendering?

[Candor]

We aren't French, he served in the US Army then transfered to the US Air Force. It's kind of funny in a sense I found something Google has no record of.

[saltYmirv]

Originally Posted by Candor

We aren't French, he served in the US Army then transfered to the US Air Force. It's kind of funny in a sense I found something Google has no record of.

may have picked it off a surrendered frenchie

[Uncle Scotty]

I think you spelled it wrong

[whoosh]

it's a medal for ironing laundry

[Candor]

Yea started to think that. not the Ironing laundry part but the french

The most interesting piece is this ( according to Wiki so one needs to take with grain of salt )
"The French croix represents a mention in dispatches awarded by a commanding officer, at least a regimental commander. Depending on the officer who issued the mention, the ribbon of the croix is marked with extra pins....

A bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level."

Thats the French version Below are the US

"The unit award was virtually never entered into U.S. records, especially since in most cases it was considered a temporary decoration which was surrendered when an individual departed a unit. An added complication is that the 1973 National Archives Fire destroyed a large number of World War II personnel records, meaning that there are very few sources from which to verify a veteran's entitlement to the croix de guerre"

Thats for the Croix de Guerre no idea if it is similar to the Croix de Sanforized, I'm stumped the lack of info is the most mind boggling.

Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty

I think you spelled it wrong

Nope the words as is on the medal are...

Croix de
SANFORIZED

[whoosh]

WHAT IS "SANFORIZED"?
The Sanforized trademark was first registered in the United States of America in 1930. Today the trademark is registered in over 100 countries worldwide. Our extensive network of global licensees uses the trademark on both 100% cotton and cotton-blend fabrics which meet special test requirements and conform to a precise standard of shrinkage established by The Sanforized Company.


Manufacturers of garments made of these fabrics may label their merchandise Sanforized. Thus the retailer and the ultimate consumer can tell at a glance that the fabric in a garment so labeled will not shrink out of fit.

[burnera]

so it's pretty much a "congrats you can dress yourself to code" medal?

[Drink]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_de_guerre

Like I said, the French version of the Bronze Star. The one pictured in Wiki is the Belgium version. The one you have is the French version.

[Candor]

That one above is for Croix de Guerre, mine is Croix de Sanforized

[saltYmirv]

Originally Posted by Drink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_de_guerre

Like I said, the French version of the Bronze Star. The one pictured in Wiki is the Belgium version. The one you have is the French version.

except it doesn't look anything like the one pictured in the wiki, which says "Only the ribbon differs with other croix".

[saltYmirv]

can you take a better picture of the medal?

[Drink]

Originally Posted by saltYmirv

except it doesn't look anything like the one pictured in the wiki, which says "Only the ribbon differs with other croix".

I do believe the one pictured coordinates with the WWI time frame.

[Candor]

I can probably get a better picture tomorrow, the Iphone is NOT known for taking good pictures up close.

As far as the WW I version



http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/france/cdg.php

[Geology_ROCKS]

None of the medals in this wiki link awarded from Belgium or France look like the one you found.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authori...tates_military

[1 Lucky Texan]

Originally Posted by Candor

About 8 years ago my grandpa passed away, up until then a box of "stuff" has been in the closet just collecting dust. It accidentally got knocked over and now I've been browsing and trying to find out just what I have.



On the front of the medal are the words, Croix de Sanforized

The literal translation means Cross of clothes that won't shrink. I know he was in WW II as far as battles and jobs he had my family cannot recall.

Anyone have clues or know where I can dig deeper?

I'd say most likely an advertising 'gimmick'. Maybe find a way to email a pic to one of those 'Antiques Roadshow' advertising appraisers.

I saw the following in a Bing image search;

[Eby]

Get a better picture and post it up here:
http://www.omsa.org/modules/Jig/index.php

[Candor]

Thanks for the website Eby, definitely will do in the morning

[1 Lucky Texan]

nvrmd

but there are a lot of promotional things done in a 'medal' or lapel pin style;

[Candor]

Wow that's an interesting possibility, are there markings on a real military medal?