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

[seanmc1114]

An artilleryman of the 173rd Airborne Brigade at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where the unit was active following its redeployment from Vietnam in mid-1971 until it was converted to the 3rd Brigade 101st Airborne Division in early 1972. He is most likely a member of the 3rd Battalion 319th Artillery as evidenced by the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation and Belgian Fourragere he is wearing. 

[seanmc1114]

Master sergeant receiving an Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster at his retirment ceremony at Fort Benning, Georgia in October 1967. He is wearing the Infantry School SSI while the soldier to his right is wearing the 197th Infantry Brigade SSI.

[seanmc1114]

Drill sergeant wearing the Military Police Center & School SSI along with Infantry branch insignia and Infantry blue shoulder cord, bib and collar disc backings along with the Training Centers DUI.  

[seanmc1114]

2nd Armored Division SSI with HELL ON WHEELS tab worn by a soldier at Fort Hood, Texas in 1966. I'm not sure what DUI he is wearing, but note he is wearing double U.S. collar insignia rather than branch insignia.

[seanmc1114]

43rd Infantry Division SSI worn by a general and artillery officer probably in the 1950's. Note the officer second from left is wearing the 1st Armored Division SSI without an OLD IRONSIDES tab as a combat patch and the officer on the far left is wearing a Meritorious Unit Commendation patch with numeral 2 on his right sleeve. 

[seanmc1114]

General Staff officer wearing a full color 1st Armored Division SSI, rank and branch insignia and badges along with subdued name and Army tapes and 1st Cavalry Division combat patch at Fort Hood, Texas in 1969 

[seanmc1114]

2nd Armored Division SSI worn on the chest of a 50th Infantry Lieutenant in the mid-60's. He was probably assigned to the 1st Battalion 50th Infantry which was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as an independent unit attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, 4th Infantry Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Central Highlands. Note he is wearing pin-on branch insignia, but you can see the outline where he once had branch insignia sewn on the uniform. 

[seanmc1114]

Technical sergeant of the 11th Airborne Division apparently sometime between World War II and the Korean War. Notice that he is wearing double collar brass, patch type crests and eight overseas bars. He does not seem to have any ribbons from the Korean War, but does appaear to have the ribbons for the American Defense Service Medal with a bronze star, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Army Of Occupation Medal. That initially led me to think he may have fought in the Philippines at the beginning of the war and stayed in the Pacific until the end. That would explain all of the overseas bars. But he is also wearing the ribbon of the American Campaign Medal, which means he had to have had some stateside service during World War II as well. 

[Ranger-1972]

6 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

Technical sergeant of the 11th Airborne Division apparently sometime between World War II and the Korean War. Notice that he is wearing double collar brass, patch type crests and eight overseas bars. He does not seem to have any ribbons from the Korean War, but does appaear to have the ribbons for the American Defense Service Medal with a bronze star, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Army Of Occupation Medal. That initially led me to think he may have fought in the Philippines at the beginning of the war and stayed in the Pacific until the end. That would explain all of the overseas bars. But he is also wearing the ribbon of the American Campaign Medal, which means he had to have had some stateside service during World War II as well. 

Wear of overseas bars switched from the left sleeve to the right sleeve in 1948.  This photo must be taken in 1948 or earlier.

[Linedoggie]

11 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

2nd Armored Division SSI with HELL ON WHEELS tab worn by a soldier at Fort Hood, Texas in 1966. I'm not sure what DUI he is wearing, but note he is wearing double U.S. collar insignia rather than branch insignia.

41st infantry regiment DUI's.

 

the 41st had a long association with 2AD from division formation to division disbandment.

[Linedoggie]

10 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

43rd Infantry Division SSI worn by a general and artillery officer probably in the 1950's. Note the officer second from left is wearing the 1st Armored Division SSI without an OLD IRONSIDES tab as a combat patch and the officer on the far left is wearing a Meritorious Unit Commendation patch with numeral 2 on his right sleeve. 

43rd and 88th divisions

[patches]

1 hour ago, Ranger-1972 said:

Wear of overseas bars switched from the left sleeve to the right sleeve in 1948.  This photo must be taken in 1948 or earlier.

I think they were switched much later, like in 1951.

[patches]

7 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

Technical sergeant of the 11th Airborne Division apparently sometime between World War II and the Korean War. Notice that he is wearing double collar brass, patch type crests and eight overseas bars. He does not seem to have any ribbons from the Korean War, but does appaear to have the ribbons for the American Defense Service Medal with a bronze star, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Army Of Occupation Medal. That initially led me to think he may have fought in the Philippines at the beginning of the war and stayed in the Pacific until the end. That would explain all of the overseas bars. But he is also wearing the ribbon of the American Campaign Medal, which means he had to have had some stateside service during World War II as well. 

 8 OS Bars, that's 4 years, plus the American Defense Ribbon with Star Device and the Philippine Defense Ribbon! this guys gotta be a Philippine Division POW,

[seanmc1114]

10 hours ago, patches said:

 8 OS Bars, that's 4 years, plus the American Defense Ribbon with Star Device and the Philippine Defense Ribbon! this guys gotta be a Philippine Division POW,

Except he's also wearing the American Campaign Medal ribbon, which, unless he served in the American theater on permanent assignment outside the continental U.S., required one year of aggregate service in the continental U.S. between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946. I guess it's possible he was captured and remained in the Phillipines until liberated or evaded capture and remained as a guerilla until the liberation of the Philippines and returned to the U.S. in the early spring of 1945. 

[seanmc1114]

10 hours ago, Linedoggie said:

43rd and 88th divisions

I think it's just the angle, but I'm pretty sure both are 43rd SSI. The shield would be the same shape and size, and it's hard to make out but I feel certain the guy on the right also has the leaf on his SSI. Anyway, it doesn't make sense that a 43rd and 88th guy would be together like that.

[seanmc1114]

First Army SSI worn by a lieutenant of the 372nd Infantry Regiment in World War II. He has numbered Infantry branch insignia.

 

According to wikipedia, the 372nd was federalized in March 1941 and from May 1942 assigned succesively to the Eastern Defense Command, Second Service Command, XXII Corps and Fourth Army all in the continental U.S. then to Hawaii under the Central Pacific Base Command. No mention of the First Army. However, that assignment could have preceded the Eastern Defense Command assignment.

[tredhed2]

26 minutes ago, seanmc1114 said:

First Army SSI worn by a lieutenant of the 372nd Infantry Regiment in World War II. He has numbered Infantry branch insignia.

 

According to wikipedia, the 372nd was federalized in March 1941 and from May 1942 assigned succesively to the Eastern Defense Command, Second Service Command, XXII Corps and Fourth Army all in the continental U.S. then to Hawaii under the Central Pacific Base Command. No mention of the First Army. However, that assignment could have preceded the Eastern Defense Command assignment.

When the 372nd IR was Federalized for the war, it was done by home stations, which were located all over the eastern US. The Lt’s home station was probably in MA, a 1st US Army area.

[patches]

13 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

Except he's also wearing the American Campaign Medal ribbon, which, unless he served in the American theater on permanent assignment outside the continental U.S., required one year of aggregate service in the continental U.S. between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946. I guess it's possible he was captured and remained in the Phillipines until liberated or evaded capture and remained as a guerilla until the liberation of the Philippines and returned to the U.S. in the early spring of 1945. 

The American Campaign Medal seems to be worn by these guy probably in more then one cases, one example I posted is this guy John Moss, was a Texas National Guardsman with the 2nd Bn 131st Field Artillery, originally part of the 36th Division, it's detached from the division in November 1941 and sent to out to the Philippines, but is diverted to Java in the Dutch East Indies, where it is ultimately captured. See the American Campaign Ribbon there. Now weither they were awarded it or acquired it on there own???

[patches]

24 minutes ago, patches said:

The American Campaign Medal seems to be worn by these guy probably in more then one cases, one example I posted is this guy John Moss, was a Texas National Guardsman with the 2nd Bn 131st Field Artillery, originally part of the 36th Division, it's detached from the division in November 1941 and sent to out to the Philippines, but is diverted to Java in the Dutch East Indies, where it is ultimately captured. See the American Campaign Ribbon there. Now whether they were awarded it or acquired it on there own???

Adriano Cabatian Post War now in the designated Philippine Division, the 21st Infantry Division may be wearing one, center on bottom row. Adriano Cabatian, he may have been a PS Artilleryman?

[Linedoggie]

20 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

I think it's just the angle, but I'm pretty sure both are 43rd SSI. The shield would be the same shape and size, and it's hard to make out but I feel certain the guy on the right also has the leaf on his SSI. Anyway, it doesn't make sense that a 43rd and 88th guy would be together like that.

Why would it not make sense? Soldiers tend to serve in many units  during their careers?

 

I can wear numerous "Combat Patches" 3ID, 10MTN, 42ID, 256 BCT, SF, 1CAV

[seanmc1114]

On 5/4/2022 at 9:44 PM, Linedoggie said:

43rd and 88th divisions

 

23 hours ago, seanmc1114 said:

I think it's just the angle, but I'm pretty sure both are 43rd SSI. The shield would be the same shape and size, and it's hard to make out but I feel certain the guy on the right also has the leaf on his SSI. Anyway, it doesn't make sense that a 43rd and 88th guy would be together like that.

 

3 hours ago, Linedoggie said:

Why would it not make sense? Soldiers tend to serve in many units  during their careers?

 

I can wear numerous "Combat Patches" 3ID, 10MTN, 42ID, 256 BCT, SF, 1CAV

The two officers on the right are not displaying their combat patches. They are both showing the 43rd Infantry Division SSI on their left sleeves representing their then current assignment. The Officer second from right is Brigadioer General Waldo H. Fish, commanding general of the 43rd Infantry Division Artillery, and the officer on the far right is most likely the commander of one of the artillery battalions of the 43rd. Someone on the 43rd Infantry Division Facebook page identified him as "General" Read, suggesting he may have gone on to command the 43rd Division Artillery. The attached 1960 newspaper article identifies General Fish.

[seanmc1114]

82nd Infantry Division early in World War II

[seanmc1114]

PFC of the 24th Infantry Division wearing his SSI upside down.

[Ranger-1972]

On 5/5/2022 at 9:08 PM, patches said:

The American Campaign Medal seems to be worn by these guy probably in more then one cases, one example I posted is this guy John Moss, was a Texas National Guardsman with the 2nd Bn 131st Field Artillery, originally part of the 36th Division, it's detached from the division in November 1941 and sent to out to the Philippines, but is diverted to Java in the Dutch East Indies, where it is ultimately captured. See the American Campaign Ribbon there. Now wether they were awarded it or acquired it on there own???

 

If a soldier was permanently stationed OUTSIDE the continental limits of the U.S., they qualified for the American Campaign Medal.  If they got a combat decoration for combat with the enemy, they qualified for the ACM.  If they were stationed inside the continental U.S. for an aggregate period of 1 year (7 Dec 1941 - 2 Mar 1946), they qualified for the ACM.  When the NG divisions were mobilized (generally happened throughout 1941), those soldiers qualified for the American Campaign Medal for the period of time they were stationed in the United States from 7 Dec 1942 until their unit shipped overseas, and whatever time they were in CONUS after returning from overseas (if that period was one year or longer), and also qualified if they were permanently assigned outside the continental limits of the US.

 

The requirements for the American Campaign Medal were for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions: 

  [1] On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States.

  [2] Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.

  [3] Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.

  [4] In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the Soldier actually participated in combat.

  [5] Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.

The boundaries of American Theater are as follows: The eastern boundary is located from the North Pole, south along the 75th meridian west longitude to the 77th parallel north latitude, thence southeast through Davis Strait to the intersection of the 40th parallel north latitude and the 35th meridian west longitude, thence south along the meridian to the 10th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the Equator and the 20th meridian west longitude, thence south along the 20th meridian west longitude to the South Pole.  The western boundary is located from the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska, thence south and southeast along the Alaska boundary to the Pacific Ocean, thence south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the 30th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the Equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, thence south to the South Pole.

[Ranger-1972]

On 5/4/2022 at 9:20 PM, patches said:

I think they were switched much later, like in 1951.

 

Reviewing my research showed that I was wrong on this.  It was in 1953 that the Overseas Service Bar adopted its current name, and the patch was moved to be worn on the lower right sleeve, instead of the left.  (Old-timer's disease kicking in -- need to review my notes before posting 😉.)