For future reference, you would have been better off posting on the "Freespace & Freespace Open Support" board, but it doesn't matter for your first post.
The Commendation Medal definately exists, and to my inexperienced FRED eyes the SEXPs look okay... all I can suggest is re-installation is case the file MissionParse.cpp didn't install correctly.
Depending on how bothered you can be to try something which probably won't help, as if the file didn't install correctly there would probably have been bigger problems than a missing medal, you may wish to hang on for further help, and maybe ask in the support section.
One thing you could try is not capturing the Rasputan, so that Freespace doesn't look for the medal, but this is pretty poor advice...
As for your graphics problem, I can't help but the inevitable questions will be asking about your graphics card and your settings, so be prepeared to answer that type of question.