My Ongoing Medical Department Collection

[manayunkman]

Very impressive collection and dedication.

 

 

[GAZOO]

27 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

Very impressive collection and dedication.

 

 

  Thanks it seems to have taken on a life of its own :)
today's additions

[GAZOO]

A couple of the more interesting recent additions






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[manayunkman]

13 hours ago, GAZOO said:

A couple of the more interesting recent additions






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Some things I’ve never seen before.

 

Great stuff.

[GAZOO]

Just a fast HEADS-UP, The Army Medical Department News Letters ( The AMEDD HISTORIAN) Just released
Volume # 42 Summer 2023

These New letters are full of Great Information, the 1 pictured below (issue #13) has a great articular written
by LTC (Ret) Bill Emerson, yes the same one who did the "Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms
EXCEPT these NEWs Letters are in COLOR :) not black and white like the Reference book.

Link to the AMEDD page where you can DOWNLOAD all the newsletters, if you set your print option to
save as PDF you can have them printed up rather easily
AMEDD Newsletter Download page

[GAZOO]

  ARMY MEDICAL
EARLY VETERINARY INSIGNIA
1902 - 1916
Winged Crossed Horseshoes

Only 72 veterinary officers and NO enlisted Men at Beginning of World War I
 

I found the combination of these two Reference articles Very Interesting

The AMEDD Center of History & Heritage
NOTES : Only 72 veterinary officers and NO enlisted Men at the Beginning of World War I

Considering the Insignia Reference sheet showing "Date of Use" for the WINGED Horseshoe
with crossed Saber or Cannons to be 1902 to 1916 (pre WWI, only 72 serving) Original worn documented
items must be very rare

I do suspect they had ordered many more then issued so finding them Loose May or May Not be difficult
I do Like the fact I was able to get the 9th Cav "Buffalo Solder unit"

Of interesting Note
  Looking at one of the 9th cav insignia, I see a area that has been worn off and under the wings
blackening, I see a bright golden color , Brass ? I can see the same type of wear on the crossed cannons.
Maybe the Nice Brass color dress uniform insignia was simply blackened ?
No markings on the reverse that I can see.



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[GAZOO]

Added a few
1872 to 1902 Medical Department
KNOTS
 

 

    Seems My Medical Department CADUCEUS Collection has morphed a bit :) Oh I have two of all 4 and two
of the black metal storage boxes that go along with these as well :)

 

 

 

   I have only recently collected these so only information I can offer comes from reference
Books recently read, Hope I did well.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks in advance. Feel free to add or include any information or photos
of these Medical Department Insignia that you think would be interesting

 

1840 to 1872  
Epaulets with Fringe are Used
M.S. in Center of Pad Designates a Physician's Epaulet
(M.S. = Medical Service)
.
NOTE:
The Fringe on the Epaulet distinguished Rank by Length.
Surgeons Used Silver bullion fringe @ 3.5 in in length.
Assistant Surgeon & Surgeon General USED GOLD Fringe.
Also the Diameter of the Bullion on the Fringe was
used to indicate Time of Service for the Assistant Surgeon
 

1872 to 90
1872 KNOTs Replaced Epaulets.
M.D. (Medical Department) Replaces M.S in Center of Knot Pad.
............fringe is now gone on lesser ranks
 

Example Posted is Mine
Approx Date 1880, determined by button.
Connecticut State Militia example. determined by Button, Pad Color & Addition of Regiment number.
2nd Regiment Infantry ?
 

Reference material I have Read states,
The light color and unit numbers were not used on Regular Army Knots.
Considering most Medical Department officers at the time were Volunteers,
Reg Army Medical Knot examples Must be VERY RARE.

1890 to 96
GOLD SHIELD in Center of Pad replaced M.D.
(I Still Need an example, NOT SHOWN)
 

1896 to 1902
MALTESE CROSS (1 inch high) replaced the Shield
 

1st Example shown (mine)
EMBROIDERED 1 inch Maltese Cross Version
on RED/MAROON Pad.
New York State Seal Volunteer Militia Button.
13th Regiment (Maroon Medical ?)


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2nd Example shown (mine)
METAL Pin 1 inch Maltese Cross Version
on BLACK (Medical) Pad.
Pennsylvania State Seal Militia Button.

 

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3rd Example shown (mine)
Smaller 0.800 inch Maltese Cross Version
on White (Medical) Pad.
New York State Seal Volunteer Militia Button



 

  Looks like I still need a M.S. & SHIELD versions to have a nice
example display of the Changes overtime.

Oops I forgot to take photos of the maker markings

 

[GAZOO]

Nice having a Long Time Local Collector/Dealer of WWI + items  👍🤩👍 not only do I get an
in hand Private Viewing He is Extremely knowledgeable and fun to talk to

Anyway Picked up this M.D. Shoulder Board 1872 - 90 (M.D.) example
to go along with the Maroon 1902 Medical Shoulder Boards PLUS some really nice additions I will be
posting soon :)


BTW I am posting these items as I find them so you are seeing a work in progress
with MY LEARNING CURVE, If you see me posting incorrect information
PLEASE Feel Free to CORRECT ME 👍

[GAZOO]

Artillery / Infantry
VETERINARIAN
Pre 1916
MEDICAL CORPS INSIGNIA

Veterinarians Officially became part of the MEDICAL CORPS in 1916,

 

ARTILLERY
Prior to 1916 (after 1907)  the Field Artillery Veterinarians began to wear a Winged Horseshoe
on there insignia as indication of there service type
SIDE NOTE: The lower left Artillery badge shown ALSO has the EARLY Field Artillery Insignia,
The WAGON WHEEL used between 1905 and 1907 along with the Winged Horseshoe,
This narrows the use of that badge to a very short time, LATE 1907


INFANTRY
From 1902 until 1916 INFANTRY Veterinarians wore a Winged Horseshoe in the lower angle of the insignia.
IN 1905 the ARMY Introduced THINNER Crossed Sabers,
The TWO EXAMPLES shown in my display show the 1905 Change :) Top Right, 9th Infantry has thinner sabers 1905 to 16
Bottom Thicker Crossed Sabers 1902 to 05

The Gilt and Silver 3rd Field Artillery badge in Center is next to the Earlier pre-1916 Veterinarians collar Disk.
I had not noticed until I was placing it in display that Both MATCHED having the same 3 Artillery number :)

The CADUCEUS at the top is the PRE-WWI (1916) version with the VC Veterinary Corps letters
the one at the Bottom is the WWI Version with ONLY the V

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Ref: Encyclopedia of United  States Army Insignia and Uniforms by Emmerson (1996)
Ref: History of the Combat Support Branches by Laframboise (1977)
Ref: The AMEDD HISTORIAN New Letters by AMEDD Center of History and Heritage (AMEDD = ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT)
......... 2013 to 2023, Issues 1 thru 42,
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[GAZOO]

Reading my last post I see I titled the CALVARY Crossed swords as INFANTRY
Oops

Also reading my New reference material I just learned the TELL on the difference between the
CALVARY OFFICER insignia and the Enlisted insignia
The officer insignia has FINGER NOTCHES in the hand grips but not in the enlisted version
 

[atb]

Cavalry, please, not calvary.

[GAZOO]

Crap I just cant get this RIGHT :)

[GAZOO]

[GAZOO]

It keeps expanding so needed to enlarge the shadow box Frame :)

[Scott C.]

Superb collection, Gazoo. Thanks for sharing it!

[GAZOO]

A few additions and changes to the displays

Filling in the holes 😉
Both RED & BLACK letter Versions

except the P Only Black Need BROWN

oh there is the Bronze WS Caduceus along with the Silver WS & MS Versions

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Added the shoulder straps for Color
RED Artillery / YELLOW Cavalry 




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Added the NURSE SCHOOL Caduceus Lamp
thanks to a kind member here :)
& Two Field Hospital Collar Disks (FH 1 , FH 2)




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And the Medical1898 Khaki Group
(home made blouse)

[Bluehawk]

> Amazing thread, thanks...

[268th C.A.]

Outstanding !! Thanks for posting!

[GAZOO]

Jumped down another Rabbit Hole 🤪

The few I have managed to add, Only a few to start
they dont seem very hard to find in this style, Thinking the
ones with the RED cross in the center are probably S.A.W.
these are 1901/02 period Examples

[GAZOO]

The following Group attributed to

2nd Lt. Flight Nurse Lytle

 

She was One of the 13 Flight Nurses of the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Squad (MAES)
aboard a C-53, Army Aircraft # 42-68809 of the Sixty-first TC Sq. 314th TC Gp
in route from Catania, Sicily to Bari, Italy

That crash landed 8 Nov 1943 in Nazi-occupied Albania
 
On 22 march 1944 Nearly 5 months later, she was One of the last
3 flight nurses who evaded and made it back with the help
of the OSS and Britsh SOE

The story was not well published due to it being a matter
of safety for the people and towns that helped them.

The story is well documented in the book
"ALBANIAN ESCAPE The True Story of U.S. Army Nurses Behind Enemy Lines"

[busternfo]

Another excellent book on the nurses' journey from behind German lines is:  SAVAGE WILL by Timothy M. Gay, copyright and 1st printing 2013.

 

Dennie

[268th C.A.]

Very nice wings dog tags and engraved pin! 

[GAZOO]

On 9/5/2023 at 11:10 AM, busternfo said:

Another excellent book on the nurses' journey from behind German lines is:  SAVAGE WILL by Timothy M. Gay, copyright and 1st printing 2013.

 

Dennie

Thanks I have not read that one, I will have to run a copy down.
I was very excited to add this one. Fit my "Wings of Valor" wall very nicely



 

50 minutes ago, 268th C.A. said:

Very nice wings dog tags and engraved pin! 

  Thanks I REALLY REALLY like the I.D. Tags as I suspect they have a very good
chance of being the ones she was wearing during the Evade/Escape. (early version with Next of kin)
The Engraved GOLD Nurse School Pin is a great addition as well and helps with provenance

Thanks Guys I have another SAW Medical Uniform I should probably post :)

[GAZOO]

Since I picked up a nice MEDICAL DUI Collection (165 pieces)
and needed a nice way to display so I think I will re-purpose my
Old Baseball card cabinet I built some 30 years ago :)

At 4 per slot I can fit 160 different DUIs per panel
Thinking a panel of Valor medals anothe panel of WINGS
this one with DUIs Maybe another with the WWI Caduceus

[otter42]

Very impressive display case! Well done.