Proposed 1948 Chevron

[hardstripe]

I obtained the proposed 1948 chevron at the recent OVMS show in Ohio.

 

This chevron is a sample produced as a result of the Army's post war plan to reduce the size of chevrons and other sleeve insignia. The following passage is from Emerson's new chevron book:

 

"A study team conducted army job analysis of all MOSs so the army could group similar occupations together and provide for logical upward progression in each area. The initial plan included a concept of placing chevrons on a blue background while in the angle below the NCO arcs insert a duty insignia such as a bomb for armament, a cook's cap for mess personnel, a radio tower for communications personnel, and the like. While this created chevrons akin to those before 1920, it had the advantage of identifying each career path."

 

"The reality was that the army still possessed mountains of WW2 era chevrons and was reluctant to discard good, paid-for insignia. In 1948 the concept of using 2 inch wide combat chevrons with a gold embroidered US Coat of Arms on dark blue background was developed. The chevron pictured is a sample of the proposed combat arms design."

 

"Chief of Staff Omar Bradley ultimately decided that Combat career field soldiers would wear the 2 inch blue on gold background and all other career fields would wear the 2 inch gold on blue background chevrons and the concept of showing the career field on chevrons evaporated."

 

I thank William K. Emerson for including this information, and a picture of the proposed chevron, in his book.

 

 

[Justin B.]

Very interesting, thank you for posting!

 

Emerson also has an article online about the pre-1948 proposals which touches on the "specialty" chevrons but not the ones with the coat of arms (PDF link):

http://emersoninsignia.net/files/Download/9TwoInch.pdf

 

Justin B.

[KurtA]

Great chevron!

[firefighter]

Very cool. I have never seen or heard of this type of patch.