Unusual World War I Overseas Chevrons

[hardstripe]

Military Insignia Collectors often run on to various items that do not appear to fit the era, or appear to be holdovers from an earlier time. One such item is the World War I Wound and Service chevrons produced in the colors and manufacturing methods adopted in 1954 for the then new Army Green Uniform.

 

 

Army Regulation AR 670-1, dated 28 September 1959, included specifications for the World War I Wound and Service chevrons, produced in the new Gold on Army green colors.

The question is, even though specifications for the service and wound chevrons are included in the regulations, in 1959 were there any soldiers left in the Army who would qualify to wear them?

Consider the World War I Service Chevron. Soldiers who qualify to wear them would have to have served in a theater of operations between 6 April 1917 to 4 October 1919, and in certain instances up to 1 August 1920.

Given an 18 year old soldier serving in World War I, that soldier would be 59 years old in 1959. That would infer that any soldier still in the Army in 1959 would likely be of senior rank. Either a General Officer or Senior NCO.

 

Maybe someone has copies of the US Army Digest for 1954-1961 that lists senior officers who would have served in WWI?

 

 

[USMCR79]

The Massachusetts National Guard had some WWI Veterans in their ranks into the late 1950's and early 1960's - Some of these were WWI YD Vets who came back into the Guard in the 1930's and stayed for various reasons (fun, pension, etc.). When the Uniforms changed over in 1959 they received the new issue.

 

I suspect that other National Guard Units had some WWI Vets in their ranks also.

 

Bill

[Justin B.]

I think one of the main reasons some seemingly-outdated items stayed in the regulations for so long was for retired personnel, who had the option to wear uniforms of the current regulations, and were required to do so if recalled to active duty.

[Old Marine]

this post dose not have a list, but there are some photos of some WWI veteran generals.
 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/366789-wwi-overseas-chevrons-for-the-1954-army-green-uniform/

[tafh63]

Justin B. is correct. Potentially you had WWI retirees still alive into the 1970s. I believe the last known WWI vet died in the early nineties? Growing up I remember seeing pre-WWII ribbons sold in the Navy Exchange and PX/BX.

[hardstripe]

Very Interesting, Thanks for the information. 

[Gijoe1987]

This has always puzzled me. My grandfather was an MP in the Philippines during WWII and here is a photo of him from Jan 22nd 1943. You can see the chevrons on his left sleeve. Years ago I tried to build a shadow box in honor of him and everyone told me I was wrong about the chevrons, that they were WWI and must have been a mistake. Also I could never find out what his unit patch was. His records were destroyed in that fire.

 

[KurtA]

13 minutes ago, Gijoe1987 said:

This has always puzzled me as my grandfather was an MP in the Philippines during WWII and here is a photo of him from Jan 22nd 1943. Also I could never find out what unit patch that is.

 

Based on the patch, which appears to be that of the Panama Canal Department, he was probably stationed there prior to serving in the Philippines.   In 1943, he would not have been in the Philippines (unless a POW) 

[Gijoe1987]

11 minutes ago, KurtA said:

Based on the patch, which appears to be that of the Panama Canal Department, he was probably stationed there prior to serving in the Philippines.   In 1943, he would not have been in the Philippines (unless a POW) 

Big help thank you! Yes I believe this photo was before he deployed over seas but my info is limited to whats written on the back of the photo and like most vets he never talked to my dad about it.

[Justin B.]

According to Bill Emerson, the WW1 service chevrons were in uniform regs until 1966:

http://emersoninsignia.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/8ServiceandWound.pdf