1940 Enlisted Service Coat question

[Rhscott]

I have this coat, dated Mfg in 1940. Shows a occupation medal and at least 18months overseas. Unit patch seems to be Western Caribbean area.  The enlisted brass is the US eagle like on the officers cap so is that "senior enlisted advisor" or "unrecognized WO"?  Size shown is 44R.

Info or comments?

[huntssurplus]

Hello,

The Eagle collar brass is for "detached enlisted men". Basically it was collar brass for any enlisted soldier who had a job that did not fit into any of the other branches (Infantry, Engineers, Medical, etc). Usually this was for some intelligence jobs like translators, some railway operating jobs, orderlies, soldiers assigned to something like the military academy. A lot of jobs would have worn this collar brass. 

Here's another link about it: 

 

With the Western Caribbean path I'm not surprised he had collar brass like this.

And a rare size 44r as well. Nice jacket.

Hunt 

[patches]

The shoulder patch is for what was called in WWII The Puerto Rican Department and later the Antilles Department. overseas bars can be worn by people that were exclusively assigned to Puerto Rico for their time in the war, it was outside the Zone of the Interior or what is now called the Continual United States. Curious on the ribbons though, going on the idea he was stationed only in the PR or another island that fell under this unit, like Trinidad, he should have an American Campaign Ribbon, he should have one at any rate cause that one was a common ribbon, everybody normally got one even if in the MTO, ETO, or PTO or some other far flung post like Iran, or India, Sub Saharan Africa etc. Army of Occupation Ribbon, he would not have.

[huntssurplus]

6 minutes ago, patches said:

The shoulder patch is for what was called in WWII The Puerto Rican Department and later the Antilles Department. overseas bars can be worn by people that were exclusively assigned to Puerto Rico for their time in the war, it was outside the Zone of the Interior or what is now called the Continual United States. Curious on the ribbons though, going on the idea he was stationed only in the PR or another island that fell under this unit, like Trinidad, he should have an American Campaign Ribbon, he should have one at any rate cause that one was a common ribbon, everybody normally got one even if in the MTO, ETO, or PTO or some other far flung post like Iran, or India, Sub Saharan Africa etc. Army of Occupation Ribbon, he would not have.

I noticed that too. Basically impossible for someone to not earn an American Campaign ribbon. I'm guessing he just never received one. Pretty common for vets to not wear every ribbon awarded to them. Interesting he has an Army of Occupation ribbon as well.

Hunt