WWII / Korea Officer's branch insignia help

[cavcon]

I have, probably a simple question to some, but was it common back in WWII-Korea era for an officer to wear the branch insignia for the unit assigned to rather than what he was commissioned as?

 

For example. I have insignia for an enlisted man in WWI who went to OCS and was commissioned Cavalry in 1945, after post war service in Germany he was in the reserves, called back to Korea and served with Service Co. 7th Infantry Regiment as the motor officer. I know by this time Cavalry was no longer a branch and he would have converted to Armor (which he did0, but I am curious why he would wear Infantry crossed rifles with 7's above in Korea when he was Armor (at that time)?

 

Any help would be greatley appreciated. Thanks.

[Allan H.]

USUALLY, officers wear their branch insignia when wearing their dress uniforms, whether they are in a unit associated with that branch or not. THere are a few exceptions to the rule. Officers assigned to Armored Cavalry units quite often wear Cavalry brass even if their Branch of Service (BOS) insignia is something out. This is dictated by local command policies.

 

In World War II, officers assigned to Tank Destroyer forces typically wore TD brass even though they were all assigned to other branches, infantry, armor, artillery, etc. Itis also possible that the officer was "branch detailed" to another branch, which is what I would assume for your guy. When detailed to a branch, it is typical for officers to wear the branch insignia of the branch they have been detailed to. In this case, I would expect to see your officer wearing infantry brass rather than cavalry or the newly changed armor brass.

 

Clear as mud?

 

Alllan

[cavcon]

Hi Allan

 

Thank you for the quick reply and it does make sense and fits with the scattered records I have on him. Thank you again and take care.. Allen