Draft:Order of Hamby

The Order of Hamby (or the "Grizzly Star") is an award given by the Commander of the Opposition Forces (OPFOR) at Ft Irwin, CA.

It is issued by the 32nd Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the fictional OPFOR country of "Krasnovia", a stand-in for the Soviet Union. Its nickname of "Grizzly Star" refers to Colonel Jerrell "Grizzly" Hamby, the award's namesake.

On February 1, 1986, Colonel Wilson established the "Order of Hamby" award to recognize soldiers for tactical proficiency and exceptional service to the regiment.

The award is in three classes, from 3rd to 1st.

It consists of a wreathed star on a dark green or black background


 * 3rd Class is a red star in a gold wreath; it represents one award.
 * 2nd Class is a silver star in a gold wreath; it represents 2 awards.
 * 1st Class is a gold star in a gold wreath; it represents 3 awards.

Personal awards were worn on the left breast over the OPFOR unit-tape and were worn in ascending order (3rd to 1st) from left to right. Unit awards were worn on the right breast over the name-tape and were worn in ascending order (3rd to 1st) from right to left.

Example: A soldier wearing one 3rd Class Hamby and two 1st Class Hambys has won the award seven times.

In Memoriam
The award was named in memory of the late U.S. Army Colonel Jerrell Hamby, a previous Deputy Commanding Officer for Training at Fort Irwin. Hamby served originally during the Korean War as an enlisted Marine. In the Interwar years he received a commission in 1958 through the Army ROTC. He later served two tours during the Vietnam War, during which he was highly decorated.

Hamby tragically died in 1985 during a training exercise at Fort Irwin. During a live mortar fire exercise, a mortar shell landed short and blew up near the command jeep he and his staffers were traveling in. It overturned and mortally wounded him.