rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 28, 2020 I've not been able to find any information about award criteria for these 2-38 Skull badges. They are fairly hard to find so I don't think they were in use for a very long time because not too many of them seem to have been made. The 38th Infantry was in Korea from 1950 until 1958 so these date from sometime in this period. After the cease fire infantryman patrolling along the DMZ were not eligible for the CIB even if they were in an engagement. This badge ( like the 7th Infantry Div Order of the Bayonet ) could have been used at the unit level to reflect combat action since a CIB could not be awarded. That's just a guess though. Some are marked NBICo JAPAN and some are unmarked. All that I have seen are clutch back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted March 28, 2020 Korean War 2/38 insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted March 28, 2020 NBICO maker marked badge front; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted March 28, 2020 NBICO badge back; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted March 28, 2020 Unmarked badge front. Note this badge lacks a silver finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted March 28, 2020 Back of previous badge; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted March 28, 2020 Here are the only pictures I have been able to find of the badge being worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted March 28, 2020 Here we have a patch, perhaps for a tour jacket, with the Spearhead and soldier’s name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted March 28, 2020 Share #9 Posted March 28, 2020 I have had a utility shirt with the patch version ("Sprague") sewn onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted March 28, 2020 Share #10 Posted March 28, 2020 The 2-38 Spearheaders metal badges seem to be the only Battalion badges that exist. Have never seen one for any of the other battalions of the 38th. Have never found any information as to why they existed (award like 7th ID Bayonet badge, unit insignia, etc). Yes, that is a "unit/name tape" patch. Have seen one for the 23rd IR made the same way, but w/ a tomahawk in lieu of the skull-spear design. Their use in general became popular in the 50s. Pretty sure there is a thread about these here on the Forum. Note the GI in the photo on the left (post #7) has the design painted onto his helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted March 28, 2020 I’ve been searching for the thread, I seem to recall seeing one but haven’t found it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilin1979 Posted April 11 Share #12 Posted April 11 4 years later. If you are a member of ASMIC there is an article in the Apr-Jun 2024 magazine on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd12 Posted April 11 Author Share #13 Posted April 11 Thanks for the heads up, a great article! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillock Posted April 11 Share #14 Posted April 11 Hi Team Unsure if I have posted on USMF , if I have my apologies, here is my one, pin backed. Thanks for resurecting. cheers Phill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 11 Share #15 Posted April 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 11 Share #16 Posted April 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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