16th Infantry Regiment Uniform Help

[McDermut99]

As I have done in the past few years, I will be part of my local VFW float in the upcoming 4th of July parade representing my re-enactment unit. During the actual parade I will be wearing my combat uniform and field gear, which I have ready to go. However before the parade there is a large community breakfast, and I've been planning on wearing my Ike jacket uniform set I've been slowly acquiring all the appropriate insignia for. Before I have all the patches sewn on I'd like to run the entire "impression" past y'all in case I made any mistake(s). Any comments are greatly appreciated!

 

Unit: 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division

Rank: Private First Class (My re-enactment unit rank)

Enlisted: 9 March 1940

Last known date in the field: 2 July 1944

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge, Marksman Qualification Badge w/ Rifle Bar

Ribbons: American Campaign / European Campaign w/ silver and bronze arrowheads and four bronze campaign stars / American Defense / Good Conduct.

(While it may make sense for a soldier who has been in the field for this long to have been awarded a Bronze Star and/or Purple Heart, I am uncomfortable with wearing such decorations and have currently chosen not to wear either. I would appreciate your opinions regarding this issue.)

Unit Decorations: Army Presidential Unit Citation w/ Bronze OLC

Cuff Insignia: Four Overseas Bars / One Re-Enlistment Hash

 

This is my current layout. In regards to sleeve insignia placement, I have read that the 1st I.D. SSI should be on the left shoulder centered 1/2 in. below the shoulder seam. All the other insignia (chevrons, bars, and hash) goes on the left sleeve as well, but I'm unsure as to the exact placement of them.

 

Again any comments and advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Here are some of the links I used to determine this impression:

https://16thinfassn.org/history/regimental-history/

https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0016in002bn.htm

https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/battle-of-normandy/forces/usa/1st-infantry-division

https://16thinfassn.org/history/regimental-honors/

https://16thinfassn.org/history/regimental-honors/

 

[copper252]

Is this going to be end of war uniform or mid-war uniform? If it is mid-war, I would tone back the amount of campaign stars and wear a 4-pocket Service Coat rather than the Ike.

 

-Seth

[McDermut99]

It's a mid-war, and I'm still looking for a 4-pocket that will fit me AND is in wearable condition.

 

I can certainly understand toning back on the campaign stars.

[copper252]

I might not be reading the awards right, but are you going to have a silver campaign star or not?

 

-Seth

[McDermut99]

I do have a silver campaign star that I could use, but I would have to bump up the "Last known date in the field" to after the Northern France Campaign, making it five campaign stars and thus able to wear the silver campaign star.

[copper252]

Sorry about that, I did not see the last date in field. I was just confused when you said "w/ silver and bronze arrowheads and four bronze campaign stars"

 

-Seth

[McDermut99]

No problem. The silver arrowhead represents participation in two amphibious landings, and even though some examples on the contrary are sure to exist, it wasn't within regulations to have a bronze arrowhead for each landing if the soldier qualified for two or more.

[copper252]

I have never heard of the silver arrowhead. Was that regulation?

 

-Seth

[copper252]

Do you have any photos of it being worn?

 

-Seth

[McDermut99]

It was, and still is to my knowledge. While this thread doesn't specifically mention silver arrowhead devices, it does mention the wearing of only one arrowhead device per ribbon.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5514-wwii-ribbon-bar/

 

This uniform on IMA appears to have a silver arrowhead on the EAME ribbon. At least it looks silver compared to the bronze camaign star right next to it, I could be wrong.

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-u-s-wwii-normady-invasion-silver-star-recipient-named-grouping-1st-infantry-division?variant=5926212141094

[atb]

My understanding is that a single bronze arrowhead is worn to represent any and all assault landings, 1, 2, 3, or whatever, amphibious or airborne, with which a soldier is credited. There is no silver arrowhead that I ever saw in regulations or elsewhere.

[atb]

The bronze arrowhead was not authorized until December 1944. It would not be found on a mid-war uniform. No silver arrowhead was ever authorized.