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

[seanmc1114]

Montana National Guard

[seanmc1114]

Alaska Communication System

[seanmc1114]

Soldiers of the 69th Infantry Division, probably sometime after VE-Day. Note the soldier on the right is wearing six overseas stripes and the soldier in the center is wearing five or six stripes. The 69th only went overseas in December 1944, so these soldiers were probably high point men from another unit who transferred into the 69th before it was sent home in September 1945. 

[seanmc1114]

Sgt. Roger Daniel Herrando of Battery A 2nd Battalion 19th Artillery wearing the 1st Cavalry Division SSI with AIRBORNE tab stateside before deploying to Vietnam. I have seen several instances of the Cav patch and AIRBORNE tab worn as a combat patch by veterans of the division's 1st Brigade which was on jump status until sometime in 1966 or early 1967 and also on the left sleeve showing current assignment by division LRRP's after the 1st Cav redeployed to Fort Hood in the early 70's. But I don't think I have ever seen it worn on the left sleeve by a 1st Brigade soldier prior to deployment to Vietnam. Also note he is wearing an Artillery red oval behind his jump wings on both his shirt and beret.

 

Sgt. Herrando was killed in action in Vietnam on February 2, 1967.

 

[seanmc1114]

Soldier of the 11th AIrborne Division wearing the patch of the 187th Paraglider Infantry on his right sleeve. At first I thought he might be wearing this as a combat patch, but I think this may have been a common practice of 11th AIrborne soldiers in Japan post-WWII. Note he has the Expert Infantry Badge but no CIB or campaign ribbons. I have seen an example of a uniform of a 188th Infantry soldier with this same SSI arrangement here: https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-u-s-wwii-188th-glider-infantry-regiment-named-grouping?variant=18722896412741

[seanmc1114]

Brigadier General Frank S. Bowen wearing the 11th Airborne Division SSI in Korea while commanding the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. At first I thought this could possibly be in the U.S. prior to deployment to Korea, but note in the second picture you can see a soldier of the 3rd Infantry Division behind the general.

[seanmc1114]

Some soldiers of the 11th AIr Assault Division at Fort Benning circa 1963/1964. Some of these may already have been posted, but I'm grouping these together.

 

 

[patches]

Here's one more 11th Air Assault Division Trooper, non jumper, either Intelligence Corps or Transportation Corps.

[seanmc1114]

An early design for the XV Air Force in World War II

[seanmc1114]

Three photos of the U.S. Military Liaison Mission SSI being worn by (1) and Army sergeant major; (2) and Air Force lieutenant colonel; and (3) full color on the BDU's of a soldier 

[seanmc1114]

Vietnam theater made 101st Airborne Division SSI with a more square shaped shield than the standard variety as shown in the upper left hand corner of the samples from Mark Bando's website. All insignia on the jungle jacket appears to be theater made.

 

https://www.101airborneww2.com/eaglepatchcorner3.html

[seanmc1114]

U. S. Military Academy Assigned Personnel SSI worn by a Medical Corps Specialist 5 with a Military Academy airborne oval behind his jump wings but no AIRBORNE tab.

[patches]

Brigadier General Leonard Wing Jr when he was the commander of the 86th Armored Brigade Vermont National Guard, we can just see a smidgen of the patch there, Wing Jr was in the 84th Infantry Division in WWII.

[patches]

And a 8th Infantry Division 4.2 Mortar Team in their M106 APC, 1970. Once again we the subdued metal colar ranks worn with a full color shoulder patch.

[seanmc1114]

176th Infantry Regimental Combat Team

[seanmc1114]

Officer of the 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team on Okinawa in 1954. Note he is wearing numbered branch insignia and the Ryukyu Command SSI. Also note the Glider Badge with what looks like a couple of bronze stars for combat landings.

[seanmc1114]

75th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. I'm assuming the picture is colorized. I can't make out the year in the date.  

[seanmc1114]

It's hard to make out in the first two pictures, but these show the 4th Regimental Combat Team SSI. Also included is a period Ike jacket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[patches]

3 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

It's hard to make out in the first two pictures, but these show the 4th Regimental Combat Team SSI. Also included is a period Ike jacket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Forum First we believe Sean, good find.

[seanmc1114]

166th Infantry Regimental Combaty Team - 1959.

[seanmc1114]

Officer of the 3rd Infantry Regiment wearing a 6th Infantry Division SSI in Newfoundland during World War II. Note he is wearing the shoulder cord of the 3rd Infantry. The 3rd Battalion 3rd Infantry was sent to Newfoundland in January 1941 before the entire 3rd Infantry Regiment was relieved from assignment to the 6th Infantry Division in May 1941.  

 

 

 

 

[seanmc1114]

Soldiers from the Commander-In-Chief's Guard of the 1st Battalion 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) wearing the Military District Of Washington SSI on their fatigues along with tricorn hats, powedered wigs and muskets while practicing their ceremony around 1973 along with photos of similar soldiers in their full regalia.

[seanmc1114]

President John F. Kennedy meeting a contingent of soldiers wearing the Infantry School SSI during his visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in October 1961. I believe the officer shaking the President's hand is wearing the RANGER tab, although it could be the AIRBORNE tab. I'm not sure if these men were simply visiting from Fort Benning or if the Infantry School had some sort of detachment permanently assigned to Fort Bragg. Anyone know? 

[seanmc1114]

I found the following information on the Facebook page of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 111th Infantry Regiment. I found it to be an interesting visualization of the chronology of the various SSI worn by members of the unit from World War I to the present.

[mysteriousoozlefinch]

Officers of the 27th Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts State Guard wearing the second MSG SSI.  The 27th was from the Boston metro area and all African-American.  In this picture, Major Harvey Wilson (DSC when a Lieutenant of the 372nd Infantry in WWI) gives orders to Captain Clement Isaacs, adjutant, and 1st Lieutenant Ulric Grisby, HQ detachment commander.  From the Boston Globe, May 21, 1943.