Commemorative Medal for the Korean War, Large Type (in silvered bronze, measuring 52.5 mm (w) x 67 mm (h), original ribbon, light silvering wear); United Nations Service Medal for Korea (in bronze gilt, text in Amharic on the reverse, measuring 35.5 mm, original ribbon with pinback, scattered gilt wear); and Combat Infantry Badge (two-piece construction, bronze gilt lion, mounted to a silvered metal base with red, yellow and green paint, marked "MADE IN ETHIOPIA" and maker marked "B.A. SEVADJIAN" on the reverse, measuring 62 mm (w) x 28.5 mm (h), horizontal pinback, chipping evident in all three colours of the paint). Better than very fine.
Footnote: The Commemorative Medal for the Korean War was instituted by Emperor Haile Selassie I on December 11, 1959 (or March 31, 1952 EE) to recognize the services of all soldiers of the Ethiopian contingent who took part in the Korean War under the direction of the United Nations, and awarded in a single class (silver). When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Emperor Haile Selassie I raised a volunteer battalion from the Imperial Bodyguard for deployment under United Nations auspices. 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 Companies) drawn from the Emperors elite Imperial Guard, arriving 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 16th to 22nd 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. Between 1951 and 1954, three Ethiopian battalions (some 5,000 men in all) fought with distinction in Korea. The Ethiopian Red Cross also sent a cadre of nurses to treat Ethiopian wounded recovering in the hospitals in Japan. 120 Ethiopian servicemen lost their lives and 536 were wounded during the Korean War. The last Ethiopian soldier left Korea on January 3, 1965.