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Ruptured Duck Device on WWII Uniforms: Why did some Discharged Service Members not have them sewn on


Skysoldier80
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Skysoldier80

So I know this is a long title, but I have always wondered why some WWII uniforms did not have them sew onto their uniforms after they were discharged right after WWII?

 

I have a mixture of US uniforms in my collection have the patch sew on, but others that do not.

 

Were they only issued at a certain time because the service member was issued a lapel pin?

 

Did they choose not to have them sew on?

 

For example my Great Uncle's uniform did not have the Ruptured Duck Device sewn on, but he was sent home in late 1944 because his ASR score was 87. I also have another named grouping where the guy served in Operation Varsity then part of the occupation forces and was discharged in 1946, but has no ruptured duck device on his uniform. Finally, my Grandpa's uniform has one, and he was sent home from the Pacific very late 1945.

 

If anyone can answer any or all of these questions, it would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in Advance.

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Lots of reasons, but generally millions of guys were in a hurry to get home. I've found more than a few still stuck in a pocket and never sewn on.

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Some Separation Centers sewed on the RD patches for service members during out processing. These were machine sewn.

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dan_the_hun84

Depended on what uniform the guy had on at that stage of processing too, how far he had to go, etc. My grandfather wore his khakis home from the discharge center (summer months) and his like and wool shirts lack it- but his khaki shirt has it.

 

Plus, at some points thousands of men were being processed weekly at separation centers- it was pretty common to have a uniform item that should have had one missed

 

and as you stated- some guys just had the lapel button issued (shows on the separation paperwork) and they just used that.

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Soldiers that reenlisted in the regular Army when they got home often don't have them. Also, men that were discharged from hospitals often don't

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Skysoldier80

That definitely makes sense, because one grouping that I have has the RD see on the shirt and not the jacket. Thanks for your reply.

 

Depended on what uniform the guy had on at that stage of processing too, how far he had to go, etc. My grandfather wore his khakis home from the discharge center (summer months) and his like and wool shirts lack it- but his khaki shirt has it.

 

Plus, at some points thousands of men were being processed weekly at separation centers- it was pretty common to have a uniform item that should have had one missed

 

and as you stated- some guys just had the lapel button issued (shows on the separation paperwork) and they just used that.

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Skysoldier80

I appreciate everyone’s responses. Thanks for answering. I think the replies definitely cover my questions. I was a little confused because I thought some processing centers did see everything and double check over the uniforms and some probably just had too many guys to outprocess. All makes sense now.

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Wasn't the RD normally only sewn on one jacket and one shirt? So if the soldier had more than one shirt, only one would have the RD on it. And who knows, maybe if he was being discharged in Winter, he would only have the RD sewn on his coat (since he's not likely to wear the shirt without the coat) or conversely if being discharged in summer when the class B shirt was worn, maybe the coat never got the RD because the shirt was the outer garment that the soldier wore from the processing center home?

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Martin makes a good point about shirts, I have a fully decked-out wool shirt (SSI, RD, stripes, overseas bars, service stripe) of a vet who was discharged in the summer of 1945 (he had enlisted before the war in June of 41 so I assume he was a high-point guy). I guess that's what he wore when he was discharged.

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With all the uniforms I dug through at rag houses when they were abundant I saw ducks sewn on, pinned on, glued on. you name it. Also saw them on field jackets, mackinaws, dress blues, and even a p coat! Once in a while you would see them even on officer's uniforms though rarely. And yes, many WW2 uniform blouses didn't have them sewn on.

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Skysoldier80

I have seen that also on some uniforms. I definitely missed the obvious as someone mentioned before: Time of the year.

Martin makes a good point about shirts, I have a fully decked-out wool shirt (SSI, RD, stripes, overseas bars, service stripe) of a vet who was discharged in the summer of 1945 (he had enlisted before the war in June of 41 so I assume he was a high-point guy). I guess that's what he wore when he was discharged.

 

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JakeBird6684

I bought a grouping from a salior in the US coast guard during ww2 and he served in 43, 44, and 45, but he didn't have any ruptured ducks on his uniforms.

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I have my Grandfather's Ike jacket and he never put his RD on. In fact after having it for a number of years I finally got around to looking in the pockets and there it was! The thing looked brand new, never used.

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Skysoldier80

Great find. I have found some pretty cool items in pockets of stuff that I was given or have bought.

 

I have my Grandfather's Ike jacket and he never put his RD on. In fact after having it for a number of years I finally got around to looking in the pockets and there it was! The thing looked brand new, never used.

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