AEF First Over & Early Enlistment Stars

[world war I nerd]

AEF First Over &

Early Enlistment Stars

From time to time collectors encounter AEF service coats bearing a five pointed star set between the arms of the uppermost service chevron. To this day I’ve yet to see any period documentation stating exactly what this unauthorized insignia actually was. However, AEF lore passed on by sagacious militatia vendors and longtime collectors claim that these stars represent either a soldier who was one of the first 100,000 troops to arrive “Over There” or a patriotic individual who voluntarily enlisted in the military shortly after America declared war on Germany – hence the title of “First Over” and “Early Enlistment”.

 

Photo No. 01: Two such stars are displayed here. On the left is a forest green USMC pattern 1914 Winter Service Coat bearing four gold War Service Chevrons indicating between 24 and 29 months of service in the Theater of operations, a gold bullion five pointed First Over Star, and a gold Wound Chevron backed with scarlet rather than the more common olive drab woolen cloth. On the right is an Army olive drab 1917 Service Coat whose insignia is comprised of U.S. and Signal Corps Collar Discs, a 121^st Aero Squadron insignia, a corporal’s chevron, one gold and one light blue War Service Chevron indicating between 6 and 11 months of service in the Theater of Operations, a gold bullion Early Enlistment Star, and an unusually placed red Discharge Chevron.

 

If any forum member or visitor has an AEF service coat in their collection with a similar star on the lower left sleeve or a period photograph showing the same, please share photos with us so that the details can be compared. Perhaps a pattern will emerge that will further inform us, and possibly identify the ultimate purpose of the star shape insignia.

USMC service coat courtesy of the C. Roelens collection

Army service coat courtesy of the Verdun2001 collection

[world war I nerd]

First 100,000 Over Star

The so called First Over Star was an unofficial insignia that was allegedly adopted by the first 100,000 or so AEF troops to arrive overseas. As far as I know, the insignia is a five pointed gold bullion star that is positioned in the angle formed by the arms of the upper service chevron. Even though the first contingent of American troops landed in France in June of 1917, by October 31, 1917, the total number of AEF personnel numbered only 6,064 officers and 80,969 enlisted men. By the end of 1917, AEF troop strength had barley climbed above the 100,000 officers and enlisted men mark.

 

Likely candidates for the First Over Star would have had to arrive overseas no later than mid January of 1918. It is likely that some soldiers who arrived later than that reasoned that their date of arrival was “close enough” to justify bending the rules, and later added the First Over Star onto their service coat. Among the early arrivals to the AEF would be certain members of the General Staff, various hospital and engineer organizations that were sent overseas early in 1917 to build the infrastructure for the AEF, and possibly an aero squadron or two. The combat troops that made it “Over There” by the end of 1917 included the 1^st, 2^nd, 26^th, 41^st and 42^nd Infantry Divisions, as well as the African American Doughboys of the 369^th Infantry Regiment of the 93^rd Infantry Division.

 

I should also note that the First Over and Early Enlistment stars were strictly unauthorized, and would not have been tolerated in the post war Army. Therefore, they do not show up in any of the period uniform regulations. However, I’ll bet they were the subject of a number of official memos and circulars prohibiting their use.

 

Photo No. 02: This “Black Yankee”, which was the nickname given to the African American soldiers in the AEF by the French, wears an authentic First Over Star above his two gold War Service Chevrons. The coiled rattlesnake insignia on his left shoulder indicates that he was a member of the 369^th Infantry Regiment, 93^rd Infantry Division. The 369^th Regiment arrived overseas in December of 1917, and sailed for American in February of 1919. With 14 months of overseas service under his belt, he along with the rest of the men from the 369^th who arrived near the end of 1917 would all be qualified to wear two gold War Service Chevrons. They would also fit into the timeframe making them eligible to wear the First Over Star. Next to the Doughboy is a First Over Star and a set of three War Service Chevrons that have been paired up. Note that the chevrons appear to have been removed from a service coat, while the star looks as if it has never been sewn onto anything.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 03: Here is another example of what is likely an authentic First Over Star. This is part of a small grouping which at the time of posting is for sale on Advance Guard Militaria’s website. The period photo shows a member of the 22^nd Aero Squadron. The 22^nd Aero Squadron arrived in London on February 16, 1918 and was back on U.S. soil by June 14, 1919, approximately four months shy of qualifying for a third gold War Service Chevron. Arriving overseas in mid February was definitely pushing the envelope as far as the cutoff date for becoming a member of the first over club was concerned. This must have been a case of the arrival date being close enough for government work.

 

The Doughboy is clearly wearing two gold War Service Chevrons and a gold First Over Star on his lower left sleeve. Note that that the combination is made up of two separate insignia. The star is clearly on a circular shaped background of its own. The Insignia to the left, which is part of the group, is different from that shown in the photograph. It is comprised of two separate insignia that appear to have been sewn together … possibly after being removed from the service coat worn in the photo.

 

Photos courtesy of Advance Guard Militaria.com

[world war I nerd]

Early Enlistment Star

Another job description of the star shaped insignia was that of an “Early Enlistment” Star. Once again I have no specific knowledge or documentation regarding this insignia. Having said that, I’m relatively certain the Early Enlistment Star was another unauthorized insignia that was adopted by American service men toward the end or immediately after the Great War.

 

The early Enlistment Star was allegedly adopted by men who volunteered for service early in the war, but did not make it overseas until late in 1918, or not at all. At some point these soldiers chose to wear a star device on their lower left sleeve to denote that they didn’t wait until they were compelled to serve in the Army by the draft. In short, this is what I would call the home service version of the First Over Star. I further speculate that these stars only appear above a combination of gold and silver, or all silver War Service Chevrons.

 

Photo No. 04: This photo shows Sergeant Texas J. Cassidy of the 111^th Trench Mortar Battery, 36^th Infantry Division. The division arrived overseas in July of 1918 and returned in May of 1919. However, the 61^st Field Artillery Brigade which included the 111^th Trench Mortar Battery sailed for America in March of 1919. This fact precluded the artillery and trench mortar men from earning a second gold War Service Chevron. On the right is a close up of the 36^th Division SSI, followed by a most singular trench mortar (?) insignia, and what looks to be a silver Early Enlistment Star over a single Gold War Service Chevron, which is correct for the artillery and trench mortar men of the 36^th Division.

Photos courtesy of the TRR collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 05: There is absolutely no way to know this for certain, but I think that in order to make a distinction between the two stars, the First Over Stars were to be made of gold bullion and the Early Enlistment Stars were to be made from silver bullion. At left is an enlargement of Sergeant Cassidy’s Early Enlistment Star, which looks as if it could be silver. Next is a tarnished silver star that appeared above three silver War Service Chevrons, and a gold bullion star that was placed over a single silver War Service Chevron.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 06: A larger view of the odd insignia on Sergeant Cassidy’s sleeve. It’s possible that this emblem was the insignia of the 111^th Trench Mortar Battery. Has anybody ever seen anything like this before? On the right is the more conventional Trench Mortar insignia comprised of a trench mortar bomb in red. In this case, the service coat belonged to a captain who served in the 1^st Infantry Division. Note the gold bullion embroidered U.S. and crossed cannon barrels on the coat’s collar.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 07: Examples of three completely different star insignia, all of which probably represent Early Enlistment Stars. Each is used in conjunction with silver and gold War Service Chevrons. Note that all of the silver service chevrons have been sewn onto their olive drab backing cloth using either silver or white thread. Gold thread however, has been used to attach the only gold chevron present.

 

Rumor has it that the stars as well as various combinations of silver and gold War Service Chevrons were sold by vendors at veteran’s organization meeting halls and at post war reunions. It is likely that veterans purchased whatever type of star was available, or the style of their preference, be it gold bullion, silver bullion or stamped brass to more accurately depict their service during the World War.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 08: The early Enlistment Star placed above this soldier’s silver war Service Chevron is clearly silver, not gold in color. An enlarged view of his chevron is compared to another silver service chevron with a gold bullion Early Enlistment Star. Note how the stars were positioned with the fifth point facing both up and down.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No.09: On the left this a curious set up is comprised of gold and light blue War Service Chevrons, which collectively represent between 6 and 11 months service in the Theater of Operations. Above the service chevrons is what appears to be a gold bullion Early Enlistment Star, followed by an unusually low red Discharge Chevron. Other insignia on this service coat include U.S and Air service Collar Discs, a corporal’s chevron and a 121^st Aero Squadron insignia.

 

Apparently elements of the 121^st Aero Squadron sailed for France in January of 1918. Upon arrival overseas the 121st was reorganized or incorporated into the 640^th Aero Squadron. The 640^th Aero Squadron remained in France until April of 1919, making any member who started out with the 121^st eligible for a maximum of two gold War Service Chevrons. The owner of this service coat, which is also pictured in photo number 1, was likely a replacement who enlisted early, but only served overseas for a period of 7 to 11 months.

 

On the right is a soldier from the “Sunshine” or 40th Infantry Division. It went overseas in August of 1918. Upon its arrival in France it was designated as the 6^th Depot Division. Its personnel provided replacements to the other AEF combat divisions. Each individual’s time served in the Theater of Operations would vary depending on the date the organization to which they were transferred to sailed for home.

Left hand photo courtesy of Verdun2001 collection

[world war I nerd]

Silver Star Citation

This is pure speculation, but it’s possible that some veterans who were awarded the Citation Star for valor may have unofficially placed a similar star above their War Service Chevrons to symbolize their heroism overseas. It is also possible that stars similar in appearance to the citation star were just another type of First Over or Early Enlistment Star sold by post war vendors. The Citation Star was an award of the U.S. Army established by an act of Congress on July 9, 1918. It was awarded to any officer or enlisted man for gallantry in action, published in orders from the headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer that did not warrant the issue of a Distinguished Service Cross or the Medal of Honor.

 

The award consisted of a 3/16 inch diameter silver star pinned onto the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medal or a 3/16 inch diameter bronze star pinned onto the World war I Victory Medal ribbon bar. On July 19, 1932 the Secretary of War approved the Silver Star Medal to replace the Citation Star, which appears in the center of the Silver Star’s medal, surrounded by a wreath.

 

Photo No. 10: Clockwise from left: Silver Star Medal with the image of the Citation Star in its center; Victory Medal ribbon bar bearing the Citation Star in bronze followed by four smaller, bronze campaign stars; a bronze star identical to that used on the Victory Medal’s ribbon bar have been applied to the two sets of gold and silver War Service Chevrons. It’s impossible to know whether a star of this type represents the award of a Citation Star or if it is just a variation of the Early Enlistment Star.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 11: This Doughboy, whose unit is unknown, is wearing an unusual six point star over a pair of gold War Service Chevrons. It appears that his collar ornaments consist of a pair of pinback Infantry sweetheart pins with the initials ‘U.S.’ in silver superimposed over the crossed rifles. There is no way to know whether this star is a First Over, Early Enlistment or another type of star whose purpose is unknown. A six point star could also be affiliated with the 6^th Infantry Division or someone of the Jewish faith. Opposite the photo is an enlarged view of the star and a rather awkward set of gold War Service Chevrons with what must be a First Over Star.

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 12: Close ups of a variety of First Over and Early Enlistment Stars. Clockwise from upper left: gold bullion First Over Star from the USMC service coat shown in photo umber 1; what looks to be a silver bullion Early Enlistment Star, a loose stamped brass star with a split pin that accompanied the center service chevron in photo number 7; a gold bullion First Over Star sewn onto a circular background; and another gold bullion First Over Star from the 22^nd Aero Squadron group shown in photo number 3.

[world war I nerd]

POW Chevron

The following extract from a post war pamphlet that was handed out to soldiers who were already discharged or soon to be discharged contained the only period reference to the “gold and silver stars on the sleeve” of the service coats presumably worn as either the First Over or Early Enlistment Stars by post WW I Doughboys:

 

Such decorations such as gold and silver stars on the sleeves, unauthorized campaign ribbons, gold chevrons presumed to denote that the wearer has been a prisoner of war, or denoting any service other than prescribed for such chevrons are not authorized and will not be permitted, (See Circular No.85 War Department, Washington February 19, 1919)

 

Where Do We Go From Here: This is the Real Dope, 1919, William Brown Meloney, page 13, 32

Small horizontal, gold tape strips always placed below gold War Service Chevrons show up on AEF service coats on occasion. I have seen these called “Runners Stripes”, which indicated that the soldier was a messenger or “runner” who carried dispatches from a Company HQ to higher HQ and back on the field of battle. Others say that the gold tape strip was an early less than six months of service in the Theater of Operations chevron and the forerunner of the light blue War Service Chevron. I personally do not know what this type of insignia represents, while both of the above are certainly plausible, after reading of the “gold chevrons presumed to denote that the wearer has been a prisoner of war”, made me wonder if that could be what this particular insignia is?

 

Photo No. 13: here are some examples of the gold tape strips. On the left, the upper two were strips were sewn onto both the right and left hand sleeves of the same service coat. Beneath that is a similar gold strip that was on the sleeve of a service coat bearing the insignia of the 12^th Infantry Division – a division that never made it overseas. Which begs the question why was a gold War Service Chevron for overseas service sewn onto that coat? On the right is a 1^st Army Engineer with what could be a gold strip; however it does look a bit too wide.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts, opinions or solid information as to what the gold strips represent?

 

End of the post. Thanks for looking … World war I Nerd

[BEAST]

WWI Nerd- Another great thread! This was vexing the Army in 1918 also. In June of 1918, the Stars & Stripes ran the article shown below.

 

 

[world war I nerd]

Thanks Erick,

 

I should have checked the Stars and Stripes, as that has always been a useful source of information for me. Thanks for posting the article.

[world war I nerd]

I transcribed the Stars and Stripes article so it would be easier to read …

No One in A.E.F. Entitled to Wear

Widely-Rumored Decoration

No one in the A.E. F. is entitled to wear a star or any other insignia inside the V of his service chevron. The story has grown up, gone around, and been generally believed even by high divisional officers that men who came over in the first contingent, or before a certain date – no one seems to know exactly which – were entitled to the decoration. This newspaper has been fairly flooded with queries.

 

The answer is simple. They are not. G.H. Q. has not authorized such a decoration.

 

The only stars apart from generals’ which A.E. F. soldiers are authorized to wear are those referred to in General Orders 26 which concerns awards, wound and service chevrons and decorations generally. It says:

 

“Other citations for gallantry in action published in orders issued from the headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer will be indicated in each case by a silver star three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter worn upon the ribbon of the Distinguished Service Cross and upon the corresponding ribbon.

 

Stars and Stripes newspaper, June 28, 1918, Vol, 1, No. 21, page 1

[Dave]

Wow - what a great thread!!

[jgawne]

agree- I might assume this was the product of over-enthusiastic doughboys, or unscrupulous insignia companies. I can see French insignia companies who have had their orders just stop, eager to sell thgins to Doughs sitting around waiting to go home.

[trenchbuff]

Another great and informative thread! I always look forward to them.

[MAW]

A friend of mine has transcripts of interviews from a reunion of 166th Inf. vets.....there are a group of guys joking and laughing about how they wanted to put anything they could on their uniforms to impress the girls when they got home.

 

 

 

I have also seen combinations of French and/or British service stripes worn in conjunction with US insignia by vets who had prior service in foreign armies. I would suspect that this practice was not officially authorized either.

[1SG_1st_Cav]

This is great information. Thanks!

[world war I nerd]

Thanks to all for the positive comments.

 

One thing I was surprised to find out, thanks to the Stars and Stripes article posted by Beast, was that the use of First Over Stars was a becoming a problem as early as June of 1918. I had always incorrectly assumed that the stars were a late or post war addition to the uniform.

 

MAW ... I agree that many of the returning veterans were probably eager to add whatever they could onto their service coats to emphasize that they had been "Over There".

 

In regard to the use of foreign wound and service chevrons, I recently stumbled across another Stars and Stripes article which stated that the War Department had approved the wearing of decorations that had been earned while fighting with the French or British Armies prior to serving in the AEF.

 

The article went on to mention a sergeant who had joined the British Army as soon as war was declared. When America entered the war he was then transferred to the AEF. The article further mentioned that after approval was granted to wear foreign decorations, he showed up at HQ wearing three British wound stripes and one American wound Chevron, plus one red and three blue British was service chevrons and two U.S. overseas stripes showing that he had been wounded four times over the course of his five year involvement in the Great War!

[bertmedals]

Excellent post as always! Thanks.

[cthomas]

Brian -

Thanks to your thread, I now think I have this insignia identified. Could this be yet another method of attaching an early enlistment star? As seen in the portrait, this Air Service enlisted guy decided to mount the EES right below his Honorable Discharge chevron. I cannot think of another rational explanation...

- Chuck

[world war I nerd]

Hi Chuck,

 

My best guess is yes. When it comes to unauthorized insignia, anything is possible. Plus, like you, I can't think of anything else a star like that could be.

 

Can you share an overall shot of the same photo so we can see his overseas stripes, etc.?

 

Thanks for adding the photo. I hope others do the same, as it would be nice to see other examples of how the first over and early enlistment stars were worn.