552nd Artillery Group Pocket Hangar

[Rakkasan187]

This pocket hangar was in a grouping from a 25th Infantry Division WW2 veteran. Included in the grouping were his reissued named Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal and named Good conduct medal as well as his Asiatic/Pacific theater medal, American Defense medal and WW2 victory medals (all reissued). The Soldier was in C Company 1st Battalion 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. There was also a yard long picture of his unit in Hawaii as well as some other paper documents, some Japanese maps of Guadalcanal and some unit history books, one for the 25th ID (reprint from Battery Press) and one for the 1st Missile Battalion, 65th Artillery, Okinawa 1960...He may have stayed in the Army after WW2, but what I also found in the grouping was a pocket hangar for the 552nd Artillery Group.

 

I beleive this is a German made piece and I could not find any pictures of this pocket hangar. There are no hallmarks on the back but the pin construction appears German...

 

The 552nd Arillery Group has an interesting history but I can not find any information about this particular insignia. The 552 unit crest is much different in design from this insignia..

 

Has anyone seen one of these before, comments welcome...

 

Leigh

 

 

 

[tredhed2]

Looks like one of the two DIs for the Gp - chk your J-M Trading Post, pg 10

[Rakkasan187]

It never occured to me to check.. Will do tonite.. Thanks

 

Leigh

[1SG_1st_Cav]

552nd was a Special Weapons Group. Dan

[Rakkasan187]

Thanks Dan..

 

By Special Weapons, I assume you mean Nuclear Capable....

 

Leigh

[1SG_1st_Cav]

Correct!

[Rakkasan187]

Correct!

 

Thanks again Dan...

 

Leigh

[patches]

 

This is a Wall Locker of a GI of this Group circa 1960, an MP unit, detailed for security for elements of the 552nd Art Grp. Note the old Defense Nuclear Agency patches sewn on his uniforms (See 1stSG 1st Cav's quote). From the caption this GI was at this date, a part of elements of the Group stationed in Belgium, and this patch was only worn by those elements in Belgium, I think it also had elements in Holland. The West Germany based elements wore the USAEUR patch. So perhaps this fob was one worn by the Belgium and Netherlands based elements with Class As and Khaki? a kind of NATO thing we've seen with unit fob/hangers for other U.S. units, and worn for awhile after 1960?

[35th USAAD]

Hello Leigh A 552nd Arty Gp pocket hanger that U showed in the first page was issued to me in Aug or Sept of 1968. I was in the 35th Arty Detachment part of the 552nd at that time. These were withdrawn shortly after I left the Army in Nov 68. Something about the eagle on the PH not being legal?? Anyway, mine was stolen just before I left the Army. They were German made.

[Rakkasan187]

Hello Leigh A 552nd Arty Gp pocket hanger that U showed in the first page was issued to me in Aug or Sept of 1968. I was in the 35th Arty Detachment part of the 552nd at that time. These were withdrawn shortly after I left the Army in Nov 68. Something about the eagle on the PH not being legal?? Anyway, mine was stolen just before I left the Army. They were German made.

 

Very interesting, and I am sorry to hear yours was stolen..

 

I will be sending you a PM...

 

Leigh

 

[patches]

Hello Leigh A 552nd Arty Gp pocket hanger that U showed in the first page was issued to me in Aug or Sept of 1968. I was in the 35th Arty Detachment part of the 552nd at that time. These were withdrawn shortly after I left the Army in Nov 68. Something about the eagle on the PH not being legal?? Anyway, mine was stolen just before I left the Army. They were German made.

Thanks for the personal recollections 35th USAAD. Question When you say "Something about the eagle on the PH not being legal" would this mean Authorized, as in this particular designed pocket hanger badge was Unauthorized?

[tredhed2]

This DI/pocket hanger was UA insignia. Somewhere, if my memory serves me correctly, and that's a big IF, I recall reading that no insignia may incorporate the eagle from the national seal and ARs prohibited numerical designations. The authorized DI was not approved until 1968 and looks nothing like this one.

[patches]

This DI/pocket hanger was UA insignia. Somewhere, if my memory serves me correctly, and that's a big IF, I recall reading that no insignia may incorporate the eagle from the national seal and ARs prohibited numerical designations. The authorized DI was not approved until 1968 and looks nothing like this one.

Thank You.