davekj Posted December 30, 2019 Share #1 Posted December 30, 2019 Picked this up the other day and have been looking for the article I read some time ago about the the ribbon on the shoulder strap . I can not remember what it was for . Guess I'm getting old . Any help would be Great !! Thank You !!! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor M. Larson Posted December 30, 2019 Share #2 Posted December 30, 2019 4th infantry regiment. All three battalions had different deployments in Alaska in ww2. The Alaska tab Im not sure if its a ww2 thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted December 30, 2019 Share #3 Posted December 30, 2019 It is actually the unit crest for one of the 4th infantry regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekj Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted December 30, 2019 Thank You Both very much !! I was thinking unit crest but was not sure . I think it was in a ASMIC catalog I saw it . Thanks Again !! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 31, 2019 Share #5 Posted December 31, 2019 It probably was worn when the 4th Infantry was in Alaska in the late 40s into the 50s, before it was assigned to the 71st Infantry Division. At this time it was a Regimental Combat Team, it had on the books it's own shoulder patch HERE, but like most Regimental Combat Team patches I don't think it was worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 31, 2019 Share #6 Posted December 31, 2019 Best to see the rest of the uniform for details. The spec tag will give pattern and manufacture date and may aid in the time frame worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notinfringed Posted January 2, 2020 Share #7 Posted January 2, 2020 Here are a few photos from my collection showing members of the 4th infantry stationed here in Fairbanks Alaska. While I am not sure of the exact dates, I believe these are early to mid 1950s photos. In the first picture, you can see the shoulder insignia being worn on a shirt. The Clipboard on the left reads "Status Report 3rd Bn 4th Inf". The second photo shows a sign with the unit insignia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 2, 2020 Share #8 Posted January 2, 2020 Here are a few photos from my collection showing members of the 4th infantry stationed here in Fairbanks Alaska. While I am not sure of the exact dates, I believe these are early to mid 1950s photos. In the first picture, you can see the shoulder insignia being worn on a shirt. The Clipboard on the left reads "Status Report 3rd Bn 4th Inf". The second photo shows a sign with the unit insignia. 4th inf.jpg 4th inf2.jpg Fairbanks, then this would be Ladd correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notinfringed Posted January 2, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 2, 2020 Fairbanks, then this would be Ladd correct? That is correct. In the late 40s to late 50s, Ladd was occupied by both the Army and the Air Force. The land Ladd was on was owned by the Army, and from what I have heard, the Air Force paid rent to the Army. At the same time, the Air Force was building up Eielson Air Force Base (a short distance away, past North Pole, Alaska). The Air Force made the official switch over to Eielson in 61, and Ladd was renamed Fort Wainwright by the Army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notinfringed Posted January 2, 2020 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2020 Here is another shot from the same group of photos. This shows a parade in downtown Fairbanks. The helmet liners bear the insignia of the 4th Infantry Regiment as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 2, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 2, 2020 Thanks notinfringed, great photo of the parade, maybe the Golden Days Parade, I marched in the 1981 one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notinfringed Posted January 6, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 6, 2020 Thanks notinfringed, great photo of the parade, maybe the Golden Days Parade, I marched in the 1981 one That is possible. I'm not sure how far back the "Golden Days" parade goes, but it still happens every year. I did have an old timer tell me that in Fairbanks used to have a "military appreciation" day in the 50's or 60's. It was complete with a parade and military equipment being set up downtown. I have a few photos of what I believe to be this event. It looked amazing, and I wonder why the quit doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekj Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted January 9, 2020 Great Photos everyone !! Here are a couple more pictures of the uniform . Thanks again to all for your time and help !!! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekj Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted January 9, 2020 another picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 10, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 10, 2020 I know EXACTLY where you bought that. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/331082-1950s-alaska-command-ike/?hl=alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekj Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share #16 Posted January 10, 2020 Yep ! They had $99 on it but came down to 60 . I bought a few things that day ( not military related ) . Did you see the constabulary uniform there also ? It was ( If I remember right ) $80 on it just for the jacket . Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 10, 2020 Share #17 Posted January 10, 2020 Yep, that antique mall is in my town. I've picked a few good things out of there (several WW2 hats and helmets too) over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishLegion Posted January 29, 2020 Share #18 Posted January 29, 2020 Quite a nice Alasaka Defense uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InchonJoe Posted October 2, 2020 Share #19 Posted October 2, 2020 Hello fellows. I am a casual collector of Korean war and early Cold War militaria and I have need of your expertise. I hope this is appropriate as it involves an Alaskan Army defense command “bear patch.” Maybe some of you could explain how this happens! How did an Army patch end up on an air force Ike jacket? Also, I never saw these transitional enlisted prop/wing insignia in silver before. At list one of them is definitely sterling. The only ribbon on the uniform was the army good conduct. I am no expert but this does not have the look of feel of a “frankenjacket.” The only thing I added was the US collar insignia. I await the debate! Thanks fellas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted October 2, 2020 Share #20 Posted October 2, 2020 What year is that Ike, 1949? Could be a legit transitional, SSIs were authorized for several years after the introduction of Air Force blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted October 2, 2020 Share #21 Posted October 2, 2020 There are a lot of examples of army patches being placed on these early AF transitional jackets. In the early days as the AF set their standards for how the uniform should look there was a bit of a mis-mashing of insignia. + I think it looks cool. Some even had overseas bars on the cuffs. There are other forum posting that show these examples, I just can't locate it quickly. Is this an Ike style or full length jacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted October 2, 2020 Share #22 Posted October 2, 2020 I just saw the other post and , yes, it is an ike. A good looking jacket. With addition of the patches, it sure makes it look pretty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 3, 2020 Share #23 Posted October 3, 2020 7 hours ago, InchonJoe said: Hello fellows. I am a casual collector of Korean war and early Cold War militaria and I have need of your expertise. I hope this is appropriate as it involves an Alaskan Army defense command “bear patch.” Maybe some of you could explain how this happens! How did an Army patch end up on an air force Ike jacket? Also, I never saw these transitional enlisted prop/wing insignia in silver before. At list one of them is definitely sterling. The only ribbon on the uniform was the army good conduct. I am no expert but this does not have the look of feel of a “frankenjacket.” The only thing I added was the US collar insignia. I await the debate! Thanks fellas! Check out these two large topic here Joe, lots of great stuff, and with ones with the shoulder patch. On yours this man maybe just assighned to Alaska Air Command, and wears this patch as an alternative organizational shoulder patch. Those bottom colar discs are rare, these are usually seen only in Brass not Silver, the Brass ones were worn in what is called the "Transitional" period. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5846-post-wwii-50s-60s-us-air-force-uniform-photos/ https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57923-part-ii-early-us-air-force-transitional/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InchonJoe Posted October 3, 2020 Share #24 Posted October 3, 2020 Thanks. I suspected the branch devices were rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted October 4, 2020 Share #25 Posted October 4, 2020 I wouldn't say rare, just not common Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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