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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 226

The very rare Citation for Military Assistance pair awarded to Lance-Corporal Zai Lai, Kachin Rangers (Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)), late 3rd Battalion, Burma Frontier Force

United States of America, Citation for Military Assistance, silver, 38mm, the obverse an engraved American Eagle, the letters 'CMA' above, the reverse engraved 'Citation for Military Assistance Presented to L/Cpl Zau Lai'; 1939-1945 Star, very fine (2)

C.M.A. approved by Major Maddox, Commanding Officer of Detachment 101, dated 26 June 1945. The citation states:

'1. The Citation for Military Assistance award is hereby bestowed upon L/Corp. Zau Lai in recognition of his outstanding services to American troops in Burma.

2. For outstanding service on Jan. 12, 1945, in the patrol clash at Yethin, L/Corp. Zau Lai, Section Leader of 1st Section, 1st Platoon. Upon contacting 30 Japs on the outskirts of Yehtin, L/Corp. Zau Lai's and L/Corp. Bang Zing Gam's sections opened fire on them and continued the skirmish until L/Corp. Bang Zing Gam was wounded in the left side of the chest by a Nambu machine gun. L/Corp. Zau Lai, with utter disregard for his own life, crawled out under the machine gun and pulled him out to safety.

3. In recognition of his outstanding service, Detachment 101 wishes to show its gratitude by awarding L/Corp. Zau Lai the Citation for Military Assistance.'

Zau Lai was a native of Mungbapa Aria, Dumbuk, Bhamo District, Kachin State and joined the 3rd Battalion, Burma Frontier Force on 30 November 1939. In March 1942, he joined Wingate Troop of the Chindit Column in campaign against Japanese.

Attached to the Kachin Rangers from 1 March 1944-30 June 1945, he served as a Lance-Corporal in 1st Section, 1st Platoon, 1st Battalion of the famous unit which was established by the Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services in April 1942. They had an amazing record and accounted for some 5,429 Japanese whilst rescuing some 574 Allied troops. Such was their effort that on 17 January 1956, it was awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation by President Dwight Eisenhower.

At the conclusion of the Second World War it was decided that the local troops who had assisted should be rewarded. An officer, reading a radio message that advised how to reward heroic Kachin action, misinterpreted the abbreviation C.M.A. as signifying some sort of Medal. Reluctant to leave the Kachins empty handed, the O.S.S. created a medal and presented it to them (Detachment 101 by Les Hughes, refers). The engraved silver Medal was originally worn on a fragile green silk neck riband embroidered with a peacock. It is no surprise that the local climate soon destroyed these and Zau Lai wore his proudly next to his 1939-45 Star; sold together with photocopied citation and confirmation of award, photograph of recipient wearing his Medal and hand-written note of his services.

Just one other example has been observed in the United States Army Special Forces Museum at Fort Bragg.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2500