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Snarky the St. Bernard, the 646th Medical Clearing Company? of WW2


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ocsfollowme

So this post is meant to gather information on this patch seen here. I spent 30 minutes searching the internet for answers, but all that I found was several articles stating that this was from the 646th MCCo with no added proof rather than heresay.

 

People have labeled it as the 646th Medical Clearing Company. Questions:

 

1. How do we know that it is from this unit?

2. Are there any photos of this patch in action or placed on a paper document?

3. How would you go about searching the Disney archives to see if they have the documentation for this insignia?

4. For being a felt patch, they all seem to be in very good condition. Does that mean that they were not worn?

5. It is a 2.75 by 3" patch. What would they have sewn this onto? Jacket or a shirt?

6. Was this produced after the war ended? A reunion piece?

 

 

Any help would be appreciated. Yes, I just purchased this patch yesterday and have been intrigued by it as there are few medical patches from WW2 and was thankful to get it at $88. I have seen them go from $60-150, but there have not been many of them...

 

My internet research so far

 

646th MED CLR CO – ETO Jun 45 Austria

Under the 10th Army in the Ryuykus Campaign

Medical Clearing Companies: 609th, 620th, 621st, 623rd, 625th, 626th, 627th, 629th, 634th, 635th, 640th, 643rd, 658th, 660th 666th. (9th Army order of battle)

 

Excerpt from a Vietnam Soldier that served in a medical clearing company. In WWII, Korea and Vietnam a Clearing Company, was the link between an Army Hospital at the Infantry battalion "Aid Station".

 

2166136_orig.jpg

 

5421087_orig.jpg

 

 

I apologize if this has been answered before, on this forum (prior to to overhaul) or someplace else and I was unable to find it. I think it is a neat insignia and want to do some more research on it. If nothing comes up on this forum, I am going to write the Medical Corps for some help.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

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crotalus358

Steve,

 

I think I may have an original artwork variant of this in my collection...let me do some digging and see if I can locate it along w any info I may have on it.

 

Steve

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

 

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ocsfollowme

Thanks Steve! I sent the Medical Corps Museum an email asking for further information this morning and also the Disney Family Museum.

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crotalus358

Please keep me posted on what you hear back. I'll do some rummaging this weekend...from what I remember, my drawing has Snarky running w a syringe in his mouth. I'll send a pic when I locate it. Thanks!

 

Steve

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

 

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ocsfollowme

Now that you stated that, I think I too have seen that syringe photo. Going through my patch photo archives too.

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crotalus358

Steve,

 

Attached are a couple of photos from the original artwork that I have of Snarky. This came out of a large Disney original artwork collection from Florida a few years back; unfortunately, I don't have information on the original owner. I can say that there were several binders of original Disney military-themed artwork, mainly squadron patch designs from what I remember (pretty much all of these were spoken for when I looked at the collection).

 

I am sorry that I don't have any more info, but maybe that 1287 number in the lower right corner may be some sort of catalog or reference number for the artist at Disney??

 

Please let me know what you hear back from the Medical Corps. Thanks and good luck!!

 

Steve

post-128862-0-78451600-1394309669.jpg

post-128862-0-54663700-1394309774.jpg

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ocsfollowme

This is outstanding! Do you mind if I share this photo and 1287 corresponding number with Disney to track down the information Steve?

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crotalus358

Steve,

 

Please do - I'm thrilled that I've been able to help with this! I wish I had more info on the owner of the collection - please keep me posted.

 

Also, if you need better quality photos, please let me know. Thanks!

 

Steve

 

 

 

PS Just noticed your signature line. Thanks for your service!

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  • 1 year later...
philliephanatic

Disney Dons Dogtags has a picture that looks like this patch. They say it is the 2nd Ambulance Battalion 134th Medical Regiment Ft. Bragg, NC

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  • 1 year later...

You are correct, Bob. I didn't notice that comment while I was emailing the Disney museum on the day that philliephanatic had the correct ID.

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  • 4 months later...

I am glad to have a correct ID now. Mine came from the collection my Dad amassed during WW II. My Grandfather was stationed at Ft Leavenworth and worked in Supply, reoutfitting soldiers who were returning from overseas. When they turned in uniforms, he would remove patches and give them to my Dad. This is the only one we could not definitively identify.

 

 

 

post-2527-0-25277600-1490125238_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

post-2527-0-64046700-1490125252.jpg

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  • 8 months later...

I think Snarky was the overall mascot for all units within the 134th Medical Regiment (later the 134th Medical Group). After the war was over, my Grandfather was assigned to the 664th Medical Clearing Company (originally part of the 134th) in anticipation of movement back to the US. He sent a letter to my Grandmother on the letterhead below, writing: "this is the paper this company had made":

post-174378-0-38236800-1511954945.jpg

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I think Snarky was the overall mascot for all units within the 134th Medical Regiment (later the 134th Medical Group). After the war was over, my Grandfather was assigned to the 664th Medical Clearing Company (originally part of the 134th) in anticipation of movement back to the US. He sent a letter to my Grandmother on the letterhead below, writing: "this is the paper this company had made":

 

 

 

You have made a valid point, one that is not known to many collectors.

 

I know of two circumstances in which Disney designs were created for specific units, and other units "used" the design for "their unit" insignia. This Snarky patch is the first. There may be others that I don't know about. I have one that may or not fall into this category, and since I don't know for certain, will not discuss it here.

 

Another for certain is this patch: 3840th QM Co (Gas Supply). The Disney design was created in 1942 (I have the documentation, letters to/from Disney) for the 204th QM Bn (Gas Supply). In 1944, all four of the lettered companies of the bn were redesignated 4 digit companies - Co D was redesignated 3840th QM Co (Gas Supply). BTW - those are 5 gallon gas cans in the back of the jeep. Here is their JM patch:

post-622-0-56699900-1511980215.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

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