Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

I have to say that your thought pattern is a little funny to me, Cliff. You were obviously not happy in the French Army, but you still seem to want to be one of them.

I say screw 'em. Grab old Nappy by the ears, fasten a dog collar around his neck, and parade him through the streets in his underwear. Those dang Frenchies really hate that when it happens. That is how you exact your retribution and further the cause of King and Country at the very same time.

As harsh as those statements may sound to French ears, the truth is that all of the role playing I do in this club is purely fiction. Were I to don a French uniform tomorrow, the roles would immediately be reversed and King George and all of the other various monarchs better be running for cover. None of this is real to me. Only the personal attacks really carry any weight at all.

Now, I am going to be brutally honest with you, Cliff, because 'straight up' is the way I absolutely am. I fully understand that when you call me a "Southerner", which I am proud to admit that I am, you are actually using the term to imply that I am a racist, which I most decidedly am not. You need to come to the realization that I am, and always have been, one of the very best and most influential friends you have in this club.

I told you that I would absolutely support your award of the medals you had legitimately earned as a French officer. I have done so in a very straightforward email to John Corbin a few minutes ago. It does appear from what I have been told that you actually earned those medals. The fact that LGA's staff work was literally neglected for years, and only properly conducted after you transferred to the Prussian Army, in no way whatsoever relieves them of honorably awarding you the medals that you actually did earn. The fact that your French officer record is now inactive in no way precludes LGA Command from adding your medals to it. You will still not be able to wear them on your Prussian uniform, but I am going to make absolutely sure that you, and every single officer in this club, are treated fairly and honorably.

Are we clear, sir?

Mark, Like this?


Cliff, I would take mark's advice if i were you. Also I served for a few years in the confederate army as a reenactor.

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Oooh, David, I like that graphic!

Dang it, why didn't I find that one first?

A Confederate reenactor, eh? Well, I guess that makes sense when you are operating on a limited budget. You wouldn't have to actually buy shoes!

You know the funny thing is, for all my many years in HMGS, I always played the Union, and I always played the French. Look at me now. Cliff is questioning my love of slavery, and my face is posted as a Wanted poster in every French speaking nook and cranny of our club. Yes, that would be Dead or Alive, but probably with a much stronger preference for Dead.

Dead is a bit harsh. Perhaps only severely wounded with some sort of permamanent disfigurement.

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Marechal Jeff Bardon
Duc de Castiglione et Prince de Wagram
Commandant de la Garde Imperiale

Egads! Now the good Marechal is after my dashing, good looks!

Oh, the cruelty of you Frenchmen really has no end, does it?

OK, so this has not proven to be quite the "quiet night" that Marechal Corbin imagined it would be.

On the matter of the award of the Legion d'Honneur to Cliff, the criteria for the award of this particular medal was significantly different before Cliff transfered from LGA to the Prussian Army than it is after the transfer was concluded. I take no issue whatsoever with this. LGA performed a very thorough upgrade of their medal system, and this was one of the medals that was simply redesignated. Again, my compliments to all the officers of LGA (John Corbin, David Guegan, Al Kling) and to Scott Ludwig for supplying the new medal images in the first place. Truly wonderful work that benefits LGA directly, and improves our club as a whole. That some of the criteria for the award of the medals changed is fully understandable.

Having said that, during the time that Cliff was an officer in La Grande Armee, the criteria for the award of the Legion d'Honnuer was as follows, and I quote it verbatim:

Awarded to the "bravest soldier', this medal is awarded to those officers that have achieved special notoriety within their respective Corps or Army. It is awarded on recommendation from Corps commanders and at the discretion of the Commander in Chief and/or Commander of the Army. Each Corps commander is limited to one recommendation a month for this reward.


The 'Legion of Honor' is divided into three classes depending on the officers rank and position.

1. 'Grand Cross' : Marshals and current and former Army commanders, this class consists of a larger Cross and a silver star similar to the cross without the wreath, having rays between the angles.

2. 'Grand officers' : Generals and Corps commanders, consists of a normal size cross and a silver star.

3. 'Officers' : All others, consists only of a normal size cross with a rosette.

As such, unless Cliff can produce for me an email that clearly states he was previously awarded this medal while in the service of LGA, or one of his previous Commanding Officers steps forward to say he recommended Cliff for this award and Marechal Jensen confirms that he did indeed approve the recommendation, then I cannot see that this medal was ever intended to be conferred on the record of the French General Dumas.

Unless there is further evidence in this matter which I have not yet seen, I do not see that this medal was warranted yet overdue in its actual award. From the evidence provided to me to date, I would be forced to conclude that this award was never made under the criteria existing at the time that Cliff was enrolled in the service of France, and is not due for placement on his now Inactive French Officer Record.

Mark,
thank you for your thorough looking into this matter.

Cliff,
even if you had a wagon load of French medals you couldn't wear them with your new Prussian uniform, that is strictly verboten. Now that Mark has settled the matter can you please stop getting into a war of words with the French in the forums.



regards

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Now that is bleepin'

Regards,

Thank you, the picture is funny, but the topic is serious

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I hear the Prussians may commision a new Cajun medal, Order of the Gator or some such thing.

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Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards

I would be remiss if I did not extend a special thanks to John Corbin for researching and producing the previous criteria for the award of the Legion d'Honnuer as I had no access to them. His actions in this regard helped me to quickly confirm, on behalf of the club's membership, the pertinent conditions under which this medal would have been awarded.

Thank you, John. Your responsiveness to this matter is greatly appreciated. You helped us bring rapid closure to a very devisive issue.