This is the story of the Rose-Bailey wagon train. They encountered the Mojaves at Beales crossing in 1858. This triggered everything that followed. https://mojavedesert.net/mojave-indians/us-04.html

Thanks Kurt. I think I found the threads you and FFZ you are referring to. Interesting that there are others out there and explains the variation.  Steve   https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/266342-audie-murphys-bronze-star/#comment-2142326   https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/204188-audie-murphys-medals-strange-looking-bronze-star/#comment-1598158

As a Chaplain collector I don’t believe the Chaplain had their on patch. They did use the black piping cord.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoseh_quahote Aznation was able to ID this person.

How the Fort came to be and what happened are found here...https://www.npshistory.com/publications/moja/adhi/chap2.htm

Hi Dom   I have a few WWII and 30s officers and enlisted submarine qualification notebooks.  They show up in complete groups.   Cheers Josh

Not good.  Muted details and looks cast on reverse.

Patches such as these continued to be made and sold to the collector market well past WW2.  The embroidery was pretty much the same as the WW2 era patches, but the materials changed to synthetic.  

Bit of an update! Just received Hawryluk’s file. He initially served in the 869th EAB, then the 810th EAB, both segregated units. 

Thanks you guys.  I appreciate it!