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Patches in action: Photos of SSI being worn by the troops.


Teamski
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Commanders of the Hawaiian Division and Hawaiian Department. I believe the Hawaiian Division commander is Major General Halsted Dorsey (based on the Distinguished Service Cross) and the Hawaiian Department Commander is Major General Hugh Drum. If so, this would date the picture to 1935. 

Hawaiian Division.Hawaiian Department.jpg

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I'm not sure what this patch would be. From back of print: "Members of the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) sent to Japan after V-J Day. Used to interrogate Japanese soldiers returned from Siberia (from Mr. Kano, April 1999). First row, left to right: Shoichi Funahara, Allan N. Ebesu, Takeo Sasaki, Ralph N. Fujimoto, Alfred K. Nakahara. Second row: Chester K. Song, Ernest S. Matsumoto, Shuro Sakaino, Jinguiyei Mijo, Shen A. Okazaki, Hideo Asada, Earl M. Kato, Matsunobu Urada. Third row: Henry T. Ishimura, Charles S. Hamura, Michio Fujimoto, Teiji Miho, Imaichi Okinishi, Edward T. Imai, Kenneth K. Murakami, Robert T. Takimoto. Absent: Milton Masato Omaye."

Hawaii.Counterintelligence Corps.jpg

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From back of print: "Staff Sergeant Samuel G. Camp, member of the Hawaiian Air Depot Volunteer Corps Pistol Team, joins the Inter-regimental Competition among the Territory's organized defense volunteers, Colonel Carl H. Liebig's HADVC this weekend will go to the Valley Island to compete with Colonel Elwell P. Lydgate's Maui Volunteer Infantry teams. Post Rifle Range, APO 957 (Schofield Barracks)."

 

I can't find an example of the patch online. Anyone?

Hawaiian Air Depot Volunteer Corps.jpg

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North Africa Theater of Operations SSI worn with Goldenlite chevrons dating this between 1948 and 1951. At any rate, I did not realize this command continued to exist after World War II.

North African Theater Of Operations.Goldenlite Chevrons.jpg

North African Theater Of Operations.jpg

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The caption states: "General George Patton (second left) receiving the medal of the city of Metz, as he made an honorary citizen following the city's liberation in World War Two, circa 1944." Note that George Patton is wearing the SSI for the Fifteenth Army which he commanded from October 1945 until his death in December 1945. The Lieutenant General next to Patton is Walton Walker. He commanded the XX Corps when it liberated Metz in 1944. But note that he and the Brigadier General next to him are wearing the SSI of the 8th Service Command. Walker commanded the 8th Service Command stateside from May 1945 to May 1946, so I assume he returned to Europe after V-E day for this ceremony.   

Fifteenth Army.8th Service Command.jpg

Fifteenth Army.png

8th Service Command.jpg

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Another photo of Brigadier General Dwight D. Eisenhower wearing the Army Service Forces SSI while serving as Deputy Chief in charge of Pacific Defenses under the Chief of War Plans Division (WPD) in Washington, D.C. - 1942

Army Service Forces.Eisenhower.1942.2.jpg

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Colonel William T. Palmer wearing the Training And Doctrine Command SSI with white on blue AIRBORNE tab. I assume this is from the final assignment of his career as Commander of the United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Test Board.

 

Colonel is an inductee into the Ranger Hall of Fame and spent thirty years serving in Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces units. He was one of the original cadre for the 101st Recondo School under Major "Bayonet" Millet at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1958-59. He then served on the Ranger Training team with the ARVN Division near Hue, Vietnam in 1961-62. He then worked as patrol chief and Tac Officer at Ranger Mountain Camp in 1965 and then joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1966 where he founded and commanded the 173rd Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. He led the entire platoon through the very first class of the MACV Recondo School. While commanding the 173rd LRRP, he developed the emergency extraction rig used extensively within the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He then spent two years as an exchange officer at the British Infantry School before returning to Vietnam to command an infantry battalion with the 101st Airborne Division in 1970. He returned again to the Ranger Department and was Chief Evaluator for Ranger ROTC Camp in 1972. He went on to serve as 7th Special Forces Commander and J-3 for JSOC. As JSOC J-3 he made the recommendations and requirements to JCS to increase the number of Ranger Battalions to support JSOC. This led to the formation of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and the 75th Ranger Regimental Headquarters by the Army. He retired as Commander of the United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Test Board. 

 

Training & Doctrine Command.Airborne Tab..jpg

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Two major generals wearing the Infantry School SSI with AIRBORNE tab. I'm pretty sure the general on the right is Major General Carmen J. Cavezza who commanded Fort benning from June 1990 to October 1991. This is probably from a change of command ceremony so the other general is most likely either his predecessor,  Major General Michael F. Spigelmire, or his successor, Major General Jerry A. White. 

 

The interesting thing to me about the wear of the AIRBORNE tab in this fashion is that the commanding generals of Fort Benning were not technically on jump status assigned to an airborne unit. So far as I know, the only units at Benning that were on jump status would be the Airborne Department, the Ranger Department and the Silver Knight PArachute Team. I think maybe it was just a tradition for commanders of the Infantry School who were jump qualified to wear the AIRBORNE tab with their SSI.  

 

Infantry School.Airborne.Major Generals.jpg

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What appears to be a Dyed Full Color Blanket Patch of the GI on the right, Dyed Dark Green or even Black, Dyed so Dark as to make the Horse Head and Diagonal Bar appear lighter. Photo is from August 1966 Sub Unit Unknown.

 

jui.jpg

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101st Airborne Division paratrooper Corporal Louis E. Laird boarded a C-47 transport during dress rehearsals for the Normandy invasion, spring 1944.

101st Airborne Division.Color.1944.jpg

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British General Harold Alexander wearing the SSI of the 15th Army Group along with General Oliver Leese and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Italy in August 1944.

15th Army Group.Alexander.jpg

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seanmc1114

Members of the 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) on March 21, 1938 at Brooks Parade Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized).1.jpg

7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized).2.gif

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On 6/25/2020 at 10:38 AM, seanmc1114 said:

North Africa Theater of Operations SSI worn with Goldenlite chevrons dating this between 1948 and 1951. At any rate, I did not realize this command continued to exist after World War II.

North African Theater Of Operations.Goldenlite Chevrons.jpg

North African Theater Of Operations.jpg

Sean perhaps this is a reverse image you found? The GI Wool Overcoat does havve a buttonhole on both sides of the lower lapels. This unit, now known as the Mediterranean Theater United States Army was inactivated in Italy in December 1947. If so then a Combat Patch we're seeing!

1593876.jpg

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seanmc1114

Here's another officer of the 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) at Fort Knox during a visit by Vice-President Harry Truman.

BE597D22-FE52-4047-A88F-95E07065DA1C.jpeg

C10EBE6E-128F-4E4C-A781-EDCFC22337BF.jpeg

028BC249-A516-4475-85FD-37990B5B6730.jpeg

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seanmc1114

Sergeant wearing the Army Air Forces SSI in 1944. Notice he is wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge on his pocket flap and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation Among his ribbons for prior service on Guadalcanal, most likely with the Americal Division. The photo caption indicates he is being presented the Legion of Merit which was unusual for a sergeant.

B2E542B1-1EE7-4D63-8664-532DA9F269CB.jpeg

C6EFF11A-D54D-4320-9A84-D4E69B9967C0.jpeg

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seanmc1114

Members of Company B, 1ST Battalion, 187th Infantry, 193rd Brigade Task Force from Panama, take cover during the joint US/Honduras training Exercise AHUAS TARA II (BIG PINE) - 1983

B39B0050-424A-49DD-BA7B-ABB7E6170551.jpeg

ADE8E1DA-B8ED-486B-BEC4-E995792357B0.jpeg

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seanmc1114

Senator Harry S. Truman talks with General Daniel Van Voorhis, commander of the 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) at Fort Knox - January 22, 1938

 

7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized).3.jpg

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