Band of Brothers

Thank you for taking the time out to read this posting. As you are reading this right now, you can rest assured that there are many soldiers around the world that fall in to the category of liberators and patriots.

Liberators of Iraq

The most recent liberation that we can all identify with is the liberation of Iraq, and as a result of modern communications and technology we could see the actual battle taking place and the defiance of the Hussein regime in stating that they were in full control, as we in the rest of the world saw US Military Tanks roll into the heart of Baghdad. Whether this was the right decision or not, is not for the layman to  say, but certainly, because we live in a democratic society we are allowed to question these decisions, because in questioning can we fully understand the reason we invaded.  Anyway, what was the alternative ! I would welcome your answers and observations.

Who Were The Liberators?

In my humble opinion, the liberators were the men and women of the allied armed services led by the United States were the true liberators, not the policy makers or those in high office who have never set foot on a battlefield. The young men and women of the Marine Corps, the Infantry, the Cavalry and the countless other units and brigades that make up the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

We need to congratulate all members of our United States Military and the Allied Forces that were also in support of this noble cause. When they return to our shores they should be treated with the utmost respect, and lets not have a repeat of what happened to some when the returned from earlier conflicts like Vietnam.

For those who will not return or who have been fatally injured, bow your head in prayer once in a while and remember them and their families. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom……ask yourself, what have I done today?

Gone but not forgotten…should be a little more than just words.

Honor the Liberators of Iraq

One of the most unique ways to honor these fine people is to purchase for the a piece of jewelry like the military rings, which can be customized with all the deatils of their military career.

Click above for prices, designs and more

We are quite used to hearing about deployment from the United States to places like Iraq and Kuwait especially over the last decade or so. What I want to relate to you in this article is the importance of understanding redeployment and the enormous amount of planning and work that goes into it.

Camp Victory -2004

Back in 2004 this small little Camp about 70km north of the city of Kuwait which would take you about 45 minutes to drive, and incidentally you would be taking your life in your hands to drive the highway to get there. I will now go on record to say the the Kuwaiti drivers at that time were the worst in the world that I came across. It was a normal sighting when heading out to any of the camps I worked in to arrive upon an accident. When we refer to an accident in the US or Europe we think of a fender bender, no not in Kuwait this was usually fatal for someone. I now believe its much better as the authorities have introduced a speed limit and hopefully have saved many lives. 

The Camp itself had a constantly changing population ranging from at least 600 to 15,000 troops along with equipment and vehicles. This one square mile of camp set in the desert North of Kuwait and about one hour South of the Iraqi border became a hive of activity and of joy. This camp was where the troops arrived in from Iraq along with their equipment and they now knew they were on their way home and away from the perils of war. Here they would purchase their military rings, have them designed with their deployment details from Operation Iraqi Freedom dated like this example OIF 2004-2006.

Camp Victory – Military Rings

It’s not the most picturesque place in Kuwait but for many soldiers on the return journey back to the United States and their families it probably seemed like heaven, here they would receive a well earned rest in a safe environment after having served in one of the most hostile regions of the Middle East namely Iraq. The responsibilities of the camp was to provide security, billeting, food services and various other logistical services that you would expect.

Camp Victory – Redeployment.

The redeployment of a unit or brigade does not happen overnight, in actual fact it can take anywhere from 15 – 25 days to go through the process. Equipment has to go through a cleaning and sterilizing process before it can be loaded on the ships for the long journey home. You will see soldiers who haven’t had a moment to realize what they have been through until now, some have lost their comrades and you or I can’t even begin to imagine what these fine young men and women have gone through but you can see it in their eyes.

Tonight think of them and say a prayer and thank them for our gift of freedom. Remember someone died for it!

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq it has been quite difficult to pin point exactly which area was more dangerous than the next.
So here is a link that you should look at to give you some idea of what our brave soldiers go through on practically a daily basis;

Fallujah the Video

I have spent time in Iraq and Kuwait and have witnessed first hand the terror of hearing those words ( incoming – incoming) that was the signal everyone hear on the base when we were under fire. On hearing these few words echoed around the base we had to run for shelter to the concrete bunkers that were strategically located throughout the base and wait there until we heard the words (all clear) echoed throughout the base.

History of Fallujah

In 2003 the US led the coalition forces in Iraq and just after that time Fallujahbecame one of the areas that became not so dangerous. It was home to a resort called Dreamland which was used by the Ba’athist congregation of the area. The area was plagued by looters after the defeat of Saddam Hussein, they went after and targeted government buildings and anything else that represented the former establishment.

Fallujah Abu Ghraib Prison.

Fallujah will always be remembered for the notorious Abu Ghraib prison that was used to intern members of society the were against or spoke out about the dictator Saddam.

Fallujah the Curfew

A curfew imposed by the US in April 2003 was defied by a select group of the local population when they grouped outside a local school. The American 82nd Airborne was guarding the building, when the curfew was defied, the troops in an act of defense opened fire and killed seventeen civilians and wounded another seventy approximately. 

Four contractors were dragged from their vehicle in 2004 beaten to death and then were set alight. They were Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague. This dreadful act was photographed and shown by news broadcasters around the world causing untold pain to the families of these men. Remember them in your prayers today.

Commemorate Your Deployment

Right Here

Never Forget

Sample Images for Rings

 

When we achieve that special goal that we have worked hard for so long for, we like to mark the occasion with something extra special. Now there are various methods by which we can celebrate like taking the family out to for a nice evening or indeed heading off on a vacation if it’s within the budget. As I have spent many years around the world promoting products the help commemorate special military occasions I feel adequately informed to make a few suggestions.

Gold Uses in the Military

• Gold Military Rings
• Gold Navy Rings
• Gold Army Rings
• Gold Marine Rings
• Gold Air Force Rings
• Gold Graduation Rings
• Gold Retirement Rings.

Gold Military Rings

Although not the cheapest metal at the present moment but with the present uncertain economic climate it may actually increase in value but on the otherhand it could decline. It is always considered a pretty safe haven when times are uncertain  and its one of the precious metals that will hold its value when other assets like property and shares are so volatile. As I write this article Gold as actually gone through the $1000.00 mark and this is a major psychological threshold at the same time that the dollars is weakening. I’m not a financial guru, but to a layman it certainly doesn’t look to bright. So I would suggest to you that the time to buy the “Gold Military Ring” is now.

Shop and Save Here

Gold Military Rings for the Army.

It’s quite usual for service members from the Department of the Army to engage a company to custom design a “Gold Army Ring” with the various designs that’s appropriate to the individual fro their graduation, retirement or indeed to commemorate a special occasin or deployment. Gold Military Rings are one of the best ways to mark any occasion and a unique way to display that military pride and will also help to create a great family heirloom.

Gold Military Rings and Gold History.

Back in the year of 1971 it was President Nixon who allowed the price of Gold to float. It was President Roosevelt that set the price of Gold at a standard $35 an ounce and it remained at the same price from 1934 to 1971. And with a large amount of people looking to invest their money in something tat would give them security other than property and shares they invested in Gold which drove the price up to $850 an ounce. Gold has a great appeal to people from all over the world and this can be seen by the amount of the precious metal that’s used in the manufacture of jewelry especially Gold Military Rings.

From the time you entered the service of your country you have been filled with an element of pride from day one. Those hard days spent training for the years ahead, and lets be honest there were sometimes during that training when the drill instructor with his shouting and roaring probably made you question why the hell you were there.

Quite a lot of us in the military are there because its tradition, our fathers, brothers and relatives were in the service and probably fought in some campaign that we now read about in the history books. We probably look in some shadowbox and find the military service rings that were once worn by these brave soldiers.

Army Rings

A very popular range in military service rings is the Army Ring as this particular ring can be customized for almost all departments of the Army. The present campaigns that the military is involved in can be represented by the images and emblems that are available from the selected range. Going back to earlier conflicts like the 1^st World War and indeed the 2^nd World War there are side emblems and text available for the customization of these military service rings.

Air Force Rings

This very capable department of the armed forces is a group of highly trained men and women that fly some of the fastest and expensive planes in the world today. They have been instrumental in the defeat of tyrants both in this century and indeed the last. They fly planes from bases here in the United States and airbases in host countries around the world. I have been lucky enough to have sailed with the US Navy and observed with awe this skilled pilots land on carriers out in the ocean and also delighted of offer a fine selection of military service rings for this department.

Navy Service Rings

Patrolling the oceans and seas of the world and staying away from family and friends for periods of over six months or more we have a wonderful selection in the military service rings range for all Navy personnel to choose from

Marine Corps Service Rings

A tough and well trained group of men that make up the backbone of any military and are in the midst of battle wherever there is one. Trained in places like Camp Lejune, North Carolina and Camp Pendleton, California these men are capable of surviving for weeks on end relying on the most basic needs of humans and will still get the job done. The range of images and emblems from the military service rings range will allow you to create the perfect Marine Ring.

Coast Guard Service Rings

They patrol our seas and keep those bad guys away from our shores both day and night. Choose your military service rings from our selection.

Design Your Ring Here

Military Class Rings make a great gift.

Military class rings are available for all members of the armed force and for affiliate members. All special occasions can be marked and commemorated by the customization of these rings from the text on the sides to the images that represent the various departments of the service. We shall give you some information of what’s available and how you can proceed to create and design your military class ring.

 Military Class Rings for the Navy

USS Stennis 2007

Graduating from Great Lakes, Norfolk or California on any give weekend you can observe the pride in any every person’s demeanour from the proud parents who know that they have given their son or daughter the best chance in life. The Naval Training Officers who put these young people through their paces with assertive control and courteous authority and hope the will uphold the honor and integrity of the Navy. Military class rings can be customized with emblems such as the Dept. of Navy Seal, Seabees and Chief Petty Officer and hundreds of other designs that you can view on the military ring site.

Military Class Rings for the Army

Camp Buehring - Kuwait

The Army is one of the largest departments in the armed forces and whether you have trained in Ft. Knox, Ft. Lee you will also be able design a military class ring to represent your chosen unit or brigade in the Army.

 Deployment rings are very popular especially those with images of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” or “Operation Enduring Freedom” as these campaigns will play a huge part in the history of America and indeed th world. It is quite possible that during your deployments you have spent time in Kuwait and visited the post here in the picture. I myself spent many a day on this post in the searing heat of the summer and during those harsh windy winter evenings.

Military Class Rings for the Marines

North Carolina - Marine Country

Camp Lejune or Camp Pendleton if you’re a Marine then you have probably spent most of your earlier days on one of these two posts. Most of you will have met some of your life long friends when doing your training under a drill sergeant that you thought was the devil but now realize he was most of the time your best friend. The training that was hard to endure at the time has probably help save your life and that of your colleagues. We have beautiful custom marine rings for you to choose from and with the selection of side images you will find something appropriate.

Military Class Rings for the Air Force

Langley AF Base - Virginia

Flying high above the clouds in some place around the world you would expect to find a pilot flying an Air Force F-16 or some other make of military jet. What have they in common? Well they have been trained on one of the finest Air Bases located throughout the United States. These are the most disciplined pilots in the world and are constantly monitored for their alertness and fitness. They travel at the speed of sound and one tiny mistake can have disastrous results. The extensive selection of designs will enable you to create the perfect military class ring for these fine and brave young men and women.

When we think of military rings, we think security and that’s why most members of the armed forces and their extended families when they consider buying a custom military ring they will in the majority of cases place an order for a Balfour Military Ring.

This company has been around for many decades and has manufactured rings for countless members of the armed forces whether at home or serving abroad in places like Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. These are some of the current countries where our armed forces are stationed but prior to this they were in place like Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines. They have travelled to many parts of the globe to assist in the conflicts that has shaped world history over the last centuries and in my humble opinion will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

I have had the good fortune over the last three decades of travelling alongside these very brave warriors and have gotten to know some of them very well. I had the privilege of doing some promotional work in Kuwait and Iraq introducing the first deployment ring in Ballad. It was unbelievable to experience the huge interest in this particular ring, and when I queried some of the soldiers as to why they wanted this ring they told me that they were actually purchasing a great family heirloom and possibly a part of history.

Balfour Military Ring Designs

The excellent selection and range of images available from the Balfour Military Ring catalogue will allow any person considering buying a ring to do so with the full confidence that they will ultimately custom design the perfect ring. It doesn’t matter from which department of the armed forces you’re from or what campaign you were involved in, you will find an image to reflect you service record.

Besides the images and emblems that are available to you to assist in the design of your ring, you will also be able to enter text which will allow you to personalize the military ring further.

On the top of the “Balfour Ring” you can choose the colour of the stone and even the cut that you would like from a facet cut to a smooth finish that will allow you to insert an image in the stone. Following on from this you can choose a single or double rail wording around the stone to indicate what department you served with like for instance the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps and above the images on the sides you have the opportunity to enter your name or that of a loved one along with important dates of a deployment or years of service.

Balfour Military Ring Sizing

A very important aspect of any ring customization is to get the ring size right and to make sure it’s a comfortable fit. There are many ways of sizing your ring and in the online shop if you proceed to the sidebar there is link that can be activated to assist you in making the correct choice. One of the safest ways of getting the correct size is to go to any jeweller and inform him of your decision to purchase a military ring. A little word of caution, make sure you tell him that is going to be a wide band ring as the size of these rings are about a half size above the normal wedding band.

On the East Coast of the United States the beautiful state of North Carolina is situated with miles and miles of welcoming beaches and inviting tourist areas. There are a number of military installations scattered throughout the state but the one that comes to mind immediately is Fort Bragg and it is also one of the most historic ones especially over the last century. It is home to the very effective 82nd Airborne, US Army Special Operations Command, Field Artillery Brigade, Corps Support Command, XVIII Airborne Corps and the Joint Special Operations Command.

82 Airborne Ring 

This is a special ring that can be customized to carry those much recognizable AA on the sides with possible your name over it and on the other side, details of a special deployment or mission can be engraved. The 82 Airborne plays a vital role in the defence and support of national interest, it is one of the airborne divisions that can deploy within twenty four hours notice and perform parachute entry assault initially for the operations that will follow later. In earlier years when they were first formed their key missions were to take control of strategic locations like ports and military airfields and this hasn’t changed much over the years. The division is on such a state of alert and readiness that up to one third is ready to await the call of duty within a very short period, another third is in constant training and the remaining population of the division is a state of combat readiness.It is referred to as “Americas Guard of Honor” and rightly so as it has been involved in every conflict that I can recall and have read about from the Second World War to the most recent conflicts and campaigns in the Middle EastAfghanistan

101st Airborne Ring

Travel over the Smokey Mountains and up through Tennessee and through some of the most breath taking scenery in the United States you will eventually arrive in another welcoming state we call good old Kentucky where blue grass music fills the air. Right over the border with Tennessee you will arrive at the gate of Fort Campbell and of course if you don’t have the proper pass you will not be allowed on to this secure installation. This is home to the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault, 101st Corps Support Group Regiment, 160th Special Operation Aviation Reg. 5th Special Forces Group and of course the Air Assault School where all this training starts.

Airborne in Europe

After the Second World War when the Germans were defeated by the United States ant its Allies the US retained a presence in Europe and of course the Airborne was one of those divisions. If you go to Italy to this day you will see that the 173rd Airborne division is stationed there and in Germany in the Northern Baviria such as Bamberg a quaint and beautiful University City you will have pockets where the other Airborne units and divisions are influential.

For that special occasion in a service members life when they dress up for a ceremony or an evening out with family members or special friends, quite a few like to wear the dress uniform and as a special accessory to go with it, most wear a nice gold military ring. This ring can be made of white or yellow gold with the personal details of the service member engraved on the sides along with unit or division badges. The birthstone of the soldier or marine can be inserted on the top of the gold military rings and around the stone the service department can be cast.

Gold Military Rings in Yellow Gold

Throughout Europe especially when soldiers order their new military ring the majority place orders for yellow gold rings as it appears that this type of metal is most popular there. The designs on the rings are individually cast and the finish of the military ring can be in an antique or plain finish. The stones that are inserted on top of the ring, to reflect the birthstone are not precious stones but rather simulated ones. The male soldiers have quite a range to choose from in terms of side emblems for their military rings and can be complimented by the wearing of a military watch or bracelet. Yellow Gold as a metal is found in mines in various parts of the world and is brought to the surface by sheer hard work and determination. The early arrivals to the United States made a good living out of searching for gold and which is historically referred to as the great gold rush.

Gold Military Rings in White Gold

In the United States of America and in the neighbouring region it is common for the soldiers and retired personnel to don the white gold ring. I have asked many times when talking to service members why this is so, they tell me that it’s just a personal preference. The white gold tends to go well with the darker skin but it’s only a matter of choice really. Both men and women wear military rings, the ladies ring is slightly smaller in appearance and because of this there is a limit to the amount of personalization that can be engraved on the sides of the ring. Many of the female soldiers also wear a military pendant or arm band to compliment the choice of military ring.

Gold Military Rings in Rose Gold

Rose gold has a slight reddish tint to it and most of the old jewelry was manufactured in this metal. Should you have the opportunity to visit antique fairs or shops you will see that about twenty five percent of the jewelry on display is made of Rose gold.

It is not a requirement by any army to wear the gold military ring but it is a great way to display the pride we have in our units and divisions. One of the most popular military rings today is the one where you can have the emblem of the Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Operation Enduring Freedom cast on the side of the ring and above it you mane and date of deployment.

Let’s look at the infantry and see how important this unit, division or brigade is in the overall scheme of things in the US military and elsewhere.

United Sates Army and the Infantry.

The United States along with most armies around the world depend enormously in the Infantry units and divisions. These are soldiers who are trained for the specific role of fighting toe to toe and have the ability to engage the enemy up close hence they suffer a far higher casualty rate the other departments of the military. They are very well trained in areas fitness, power, strength and discipline and have to think on their feet to have the best chance of surviving. The infantry units are the oldest branches of the armies and can certainly not be done without as there are some things machines and technology can’t do.

4th Infantry Division

The Secon World War Infantry
About 35% of the military’s population would be made up of Infantry well that’s since the Second World War but prior to that you would have a much higher percentage of Infantry. In Camp Greene in the state of North Carolina on December 10th 1917 under the leadership and command of George H. Cameron the 4th Infantry Division was organised. This particular division played a huge role in the 1st and 2nd world wars and indeed the current campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan, not a day goes by when that we don’t hear through the media about some of the battles that these fine infantry personnel are engaged in.

Infantry Training
 

One of the big training areas for the Infantry is in the great State of Texas about 200 miles south of Dallas in a place named Killeen. The name of the base here is Fort Hood and here is home to the 4th Infantry division and if you ever have the opportunity to drive in this area you will see the four leaf clover like symbol which is the 4th Infantry Division emblem, painted on the buildings and towers on this post. The early training was in North Carolina on Camp Greene, and historians will relate that in January and February 1918 when the East Coast of the United States was hit with one of the harshest winters on record the 4th Infantry spent 17 days doing outdoor training in preparation for their engagement in the First World War.

Infantry in Germany
 

In September 1944 the 22nd Infantry Reg. crossed over from the Belgian border and they became the first Infantry unit from the United States Military to cross in to the country controlled by the Third Reich and the infamous Adolf Hitler. But the Germans became aware of the incursion and immediately rushed reinforcements to the are which was a front of about 15 miles long. This period in the history of the Infantry was very difficult and a lot of the soldiers suffered with trench foot and other serious infections which would make fighting and movement extremely difficult as the weather also would have been very cold and wet. In the year of 1944 the 12th Infantry moved into a town called Hurtgen and they took over from the 28th Infantry Division.

When we think of the infantry, one of the first things that come to mind is the ” Big Red One” a lovely big red letter on a green background and it sure indicates that you are looking at the symbol or emblem of the 1st Infantry Brigade a historic and brave division and one of the oldest in the United States Army formed way back in 1917.

This is one military ring of all the infantry rings that service members are proud to wear or receive as a gift.

The 1st Infantry Division.

The 1st Infantry Division is headquartered in Fort Reilly, Kansas along with the 24th Infantry Div. and this state is bordered to the East by Missouri, West by Colorado, North by Nebraska and south by Oklahoma a very beautiful state with wonderful coloredwheat fields and majestic windmills.

Besides the 1st Infantry Div we must never forget all the other divisions that can also have their infantry rings custom made to commemorate their contridutions to deployments and involvement in actions around the world.

The 4th Infantry Division.

They are the 4th Infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 6th Infantry Division, the 7th Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, 84th InfantryDivision, 2nd Infantry Division Regiment and the 10th Mountain Division

Put any of these very beautiful and historic emblems on the side of a ring with possibly an Operation Iraqi Freedom or an Operation Enduring Freedom emblem on the other side, with dates of your deployment or service years, your family name, and you will have just created a miltary ring that one day will be one of the most treasured infantry rings and a true family heirloom.

Remember your that every day you served defending our freedom you played a part in the history of the world.

From medieval times right up to the present day people of all ages and backgrounds have been intrigued by the various armies around the world and their involvement in historic battles. But the most intriguing army of them all is the United States Army. It has been involved in nearly every part of the globe and if it hasn’t been involved it certainly has influenced certain decisions that have been made there. Its enormous resources means it can deploy to anywhere within a very short period and become very effective as we have seen in the last number of years in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Army Training

Whether you are just a recruit or a seasoned soldier you will get the best initial training available and on an ongoing assessment basis training will be available on a mandatory basis and for self development. The Army Rings worn by the soldiers reflect the chosen career they have decided to embark upon within the military. Perhaps you have trained in Fort Lee in the Combined Arms Support Command or the Army Logistics Management College you might want to personalize an army ring to display the pride you have in this chosen field. Army Rings are just not another piece of jewelry that is picked up at random in a downtown store for the sake of it. Soldiers put a lot of thought into their army ring; after all it’s a very small piece of jewelry to tell a very big story.

Deployment Army Rings.

Imagine the amount soldiers that have been deployed to fight in campaigns not just once but many times, they don’t want to leave out any important aspect of these deployments so they put a lot of thought into what they engrave on their army ring. Here at military rings we can offer hundreds of designs that you can combine to create the perfect piece of jewelry that in time will become a much sought after family heirloom.