Ethiopia. A Korean War Service Medal by C.C. Sporrong of Stockholm, Sweden

Silver, maker marked "C.C. SPORRONG & Co SWEDEN" (C.C. Sporrong of Stockholm, Sweden) on the edge, 52.3 mm (w) x 67 mm (h), without ribbon, extremely fine.

Footnote: Ethiopia was quick to respond to the United Nations call of assistance and assembled a force of 1,069 officers and men. The 1st Kagnew "Conquerors" Infantry Battalion was formed in August 1950 with three rifle companies (1st, 2nd and 4th Cos.) drawn from the Emperors elite Imperial Guard and it arrived in Korea on May 7, 1951. Before embarking for Korea, this force was specially reviewed by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Haile Selassie I. On arrival in Pusan they joined the US 32nd Infantry Regiment (7th Division) on "Line Kansas"’ and from the 16th to 22nd of September, they were engaged in furious hand-to-hand fighting at Sam-Hyon. The 3rd Kagnew Battalion drove off at bayonet-point a Chinese attack at Tokan-ni on May 20, 1953 for which the 3rd Company was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Citation. This Unit was fighting on Pork Chop Hill at the time of the Armistice. In all, 3,518 Ethiopian combat personnel served with the first three battalions during the war. The Ethiopian battalions never lost an inch of ground, nor was a single Ethiopian soldier captured by the enemy. They were well respected by the Americans and received many awards for action including the American Presidential Citation.