Colombian military decorations
This early decoration lives on today as an incarnation of the highest order presented by the Colombian state.
The decoration is a dark blue Maltese cross w/ball tips, rimmed gold, silver, or iron according to class and resting on a green-enameled laurel wreath; the round purple center medallion bears the bust of Capt.
The reverse of the medallion is white, rimmed gold, silver, or iron according to class, inscribed "Colombia - Orden Militar de San Mateo - 1ra (or 2do or 3ca) clase."
Awarded for acts of courage or outstanding service in time of war or while maintaining public order.
It has been presented to non-citizens, for example the Canadian Major General Meating, with whom Colombian troops served on a UN mission.
The badge is a silver cross pattée with raised rim & slightly concave terminations, with a large oak leaf in the angles between each arm; the very large central medallion bears a silver fouled anchor on horizontal yellow-blue-red stripes, enclosed within a ring.
The badge is suspended by a spread-wing condor from an aquamarine ribbon with three equally-spaced medium width white stripes.
The badge is a dark green enameled cross pattée surrounded by an open wreath, with a large round central medallion bearing the profile of Jose Fernandez Madrid.
The Medal for Service in War Overseas was created in 1952 by Decree number 812, and awarded in 2 categories to military personnel for acts of bravery or meritorious acts during war or international conflict overseas, this consists of either a darkened iron Padua cross with inset, beaded rim (resembles German Iron Cross) or a faceted bronze 5-point star (looks like the US Bronze Star).
Each is embossed with the Colombian coat of arms in the center, within a circular laurel wreath for the Bronze Star; the reverse bears an appropriate campaign symbol and the name of the operation or conflict (e.g. Korean taeguk & "Campaña de Corea"), with addition of "Acción Distinguida de Valor" for the Iron Cross.
However, this medal is awarded to military personnel for acts of courage or distinguished merit during civil disturbances within Colombia.
The medal is a silvered 16-point sunburst with small 5-point stars between the angles of the points, with a raised disk in the center embossed with the coat-of-arms of the appropriate military service (Army, Navy, or Aerospace Force) below the inscription, "Herido en Acción."
Note: the service badge consists of a horizontal blue enameled oval, bordered by a gold wreath, with small 5-point stars in the center according to number of awards Awarded for honorable military service of more than fifteen years, the decoration consists of a silver eight-pointed star of multiple rays, each ray tipped with a small silver ball.
