ReverendJake Posted June 6, 2013 Share #1 Posted June 6, 2013 What did they do during World War 2, and were they ever overseas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted June 6, 2013 Share #2 Posted June 6, 2013 Army Service Forces were basically logistics troops for the US Army, you know, supply, transportation, ordinance, etc. They were primarily the Service of Supply. The Army Service Forces were stateside only. Overseas, this function was taken over by the ETO Advanced Base, US Army Pacific and US Army Western Pacific units. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 6, 2013 Share #3 Posted June 6, 2013 Army Service Forces were basically logistics troops for the US Army, you know, supply, transportation, ordinance, etc. They were primarily the Service of Supply. The Army Service Forces were stateside only. Overseas, this function was taken over by the ETO Advanced Base, US Army Pacific and US Army Western Pacific units. -Ski Ski. Did see a photo once of a GI wearing the ASF patch in Germany in around April-May 1945, at least I think it was ASF, a GI in an M41 Field Jacket standing near a largish group of German POW in a Stockade, Have to think now where I saw it, and if I still have the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vzemke Posted June 6, 2013 Share #4 Posted June 6, 2013 While the majority of Soldiers in units that fell under the Army Service Forces were based in the continental United States, there were some that were overseas. CBI made multi-piece leather versions of this patch even exist, reportedly worn in India by Military Railway Service personnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReverendJake Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted June 6, 2013 The reason I ask is because I saw a ww2 enlisted shirt on EBay with the ASF patch on the left, no SSI on the right, and 5 or 6 overseas stripes. I'm not interested in buying it, but it seemed intriguing to me as I had always believed them to be a stateside unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted June 6, 2013 Share #6 Posted June 6, 2013 There was (and still is) no requirement that any SSI be worn on the right sleeve. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 7, 2013 Share #7 Posted June 7, 2013 The reason I ask is because I saw a ww2 enlisted shirt on EBay with the ASF patch on the left, no SSI on the right, and 5 or 6 overseas stripes. I'm not interested in buying it, but it seemed intriguing to me as I had always believed them to be a stateside unit. See Vzemke's reply on overseas ASF units and the probable wear of ASF patches as organizational shoulder patches. There are a gillizion cases where no right patch will be seen on a WWII post VE-VJ Day Officer's and or Enlistedman's uniform coat/shirt item. Reason 1: the unit the patch is for on the left organizational side is the only unit the man ever served in, he never served in any other unit prior to his leaving the Army. Reason 2: See Gil's reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted June 7, 2013 Share #8 Posted June 7, 2013 Here is an example of the CBI multi-piece leather version to which vzemke refers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steverino Posted June 7, 2013 Share #9 Posted June 7, 2013 Most, if not all of the Railway Operating Battalions in the CBI wore the ASF patch, as illustrated by the leather, CBI-made version posted by Siamundo. I am certain that there were other instances in WWII where the ASF patch was the left arm SSI for units outside the CONUS. Not a sexy SSI, but you wear what they tell you to wear, right? Patch Johnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted June 8, 2013 Share #10 Posted June 8, 2013 Good info guys! I didn't know it was worn outside the US. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted June 8, 2013 Yep worn in the ETO, a officer of the ASF with Ike and then Major General Henry S. Aurand, Aurand was by the way a West Point Classmate of Eisenhower, both being members of the "Class The Stars Fell On" the class of 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReverendJake Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted June 8, 2013 Just saw that one in the obscure patches topic. Great picture, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gap Posted June 10, 2013 Share #13 Posted June 10, 2013 Wouldn't soldiers in the Special Services (morale troops) be under Army Service Forces? If so, they definitely served overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 10, 2013 Share #14 Posted June 10, 2013 Wouldn't soldiers in the Special Services (morale troops) be under Army Service Forces? If so, they definitely served overseas. I would seem so, but no telling which patches they might of really worn. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Services_(entertainment) Army Service Forces were the Supply/Logistical Troops of the Army, the counterpart of Army Ground Forces, Army Air Forces. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Forces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uniforms of the Day Posted June 11, 2013 Share #15 Posted June 11, 2013 Just as a point of interest, Army Service personnel were also used on merchan shipping responsibilities. In the case of my uncle, he was on supply transport ships and brought POWs back from N. Africa, etc. The se guys did sometimes get to foreign ports, etc.and theater made insignia do exist from men in this command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted June 12, 2013 Share #16 Posted June 12, 2013 Here is another I have had for several years and always wondered if it might be theater made. Other than the pink color instead of red, there is just something odd about the embroidery that makes me think it could be made outside the US. I might be wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted June 12, 2013 Share #17 Posted June 12, 2013 And the back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now