Faciat Georgius
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| Faciat Georgius (Let George Do It) | |
|---|---|
 Obverse of the Faciat Georgius | |
| Type | Commemorative (Unofficial) Medal |
| Status | Unofficial |
 Reverse of the Faciat Georgius | |
The Faciat Georgius was an unofficial United States Marine Corps medal given to officers on Guadalcanal.[1][2]
History
After the initial success of the landings on Guadalcanal the Marines of the 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) the Imperial Japanese forces rallied. On D+3 Japanese Naval & Air forces joined the battle. On 10 August, the U.S. Naval Forces, outgunned, were withdrawn after unloading only half the supplies needed by the entrenched Marines. Several weeks would pass before the ships & supplies returned, leaving the Marines on their own subsisting on captured enemy rations.
During a lull in the fighting Col. (later MGEN) Merrill B. Twining suggested that a commemorative medal be struck. He suggested that the suspending ribbon be made of worn green twill fabric from a Marine utility uniform and bear the inscription “Let George Do It”, the division’s state side motto from training days when they seemed to draw more than their fair share of onerous assignments. The motto was translated into Latin by Australian Capt. Martin Clemens. The artist who designed the medal was Capt. (later COL.) Donald L. Dickenson, who drew the designs on captured Japanese post cards using a half dollar to draw the circles..[3]
All that can be truly documented is that the medals were made in Australia using a lost wax casting process as the cost of creating a die would have been prohibitive. The number of medals cast range anywhere from 25 to several hundred with 50 being the commonly agreed upon number.[4]The medal was issued without a clasp, but instead was awarded suspended from an oversized safety pin used for closing Navy shipboard laundry bags. A certificate was issued with each medal.
In recent years fakes have been cast and can be identified by a different metal, different patina and a loss of detail especially in the fingers on the obverse.[who?]
Legend
Various accounts also state that the ribbon, to be official, was washed in the Lunga river of Guadalcanal..[5] , as well an Australian Pound had to be paid by anyone wanting a medal, but these accounts are unverified.[6]
Cetificate and Design Drawing
Description and symbolism
- Obverse
A hand extended form a U.S. Navy uniform sleeve dropping a hot potato to an entrenched Marine. A cactus was included to symbolise the code name of the landings; "Operation Cactus." At the bottom are the words "Faciat Georgius"
- Reverse
The rear end of a cow with an electric fan blowing across it symbolizing the times "when the s*** hit the fan." The words:
In Fond Rememberance of
The Happy Days Spent
From Aug. 7th 1942
To Jan. 5th 1943
U.S.M.C.
- Ribbon
The ribbon is a washed olive drab and made from the twill cloth of the U.S.M.C.utility uniform.
Notable recipients
|
Notes
- ^ http://usswashington.com/worldwar2plus55/dl13se42.htm
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=wNo0v-6RXIAC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=faciat+georgius&source=bl&ots=A4a32H1N1l&sig=0pfxyMIXBVxl4e6snhszhXuJktA&hl=en&ei=yDVDTIWnB4H88AbY1dXBDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=faciat%20georgius&f=false
- ^ "The George Medal" by Dick Camp, LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, August, 2002
- ^ "Let George Do It" by P.L. Thompson, LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, August, 1982
- ^ "The George Medal" by Dick Camp, LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, August, 2002
- ^ http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=11097
Reprints of the articles cited are available for purchase from http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/
References
"Let George Do It" by P.L. Thompson, LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, August, 1982
"The George Medal" by Dick Camp, LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, August, 2002
External links
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