It's for comm's, the mic goes into that center plug with the stem at 4 o'clock. Bombers in the early years had the push to talk system with the throat mic and the headset or the flying cap speaker set up. At low altitude when oxygen was not used you see pilots with a hand mike.    OR, your talking about the two outer circles. Those are where the air comes out, they  had a sponge like center that collected the water vapor from your breath to keep it from freezing your mask up at high altitude. A mask freezing over was a very real problem in the early years. 

So from my further research on this forum, which is a wealth of knowledge, it appears that this machine-engraving would be from at least the early 1950s (as all known WW2 DSC’s were hand-engraved, if they were engraved at all).    Given that Secord was KIA in 1944 and his DSC award appeared to have been made in 1946, I’m unsure when Secord’s family would have been presented with his DSC.    I will continue my research for now but any comments or thoughts are welcome.

One of the first patches from this maker. Been out for almost 2 years. 

Thank you for the help, @atb and @danimal03 !   You both helped me avoid an expensive mistake! Thanks, T

I am leaning towards an Intel/ASA/PSYOPS type unit due to the 3 colors of the diamonds and their use in DIs related to those types of units. Any help would be nice for all of us.  

Hello. Is this an original 509th WWII theater made patch or a known reproduction?   Thanks    JL

The Hawaiian uniforms are quite interesting to me. My Grandfather was in Hawaii in 41 with the 34th Infantry prior to them being made a part of the 24th Division and sailed with them to the Philippines on Dec 12th of 41. Of course he never made it and was instead rerouted to Australia and then New Guinea.       I can only imagine the various styles of uniforms he saw prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor with the call up of National Guard and all. This is a great topic and the uniforms are great.    Scott  

Just the few posted are incredible. The Volkswagon is great as is the shaved head dude with 03. Assuming it says Idaho on tank? But is that a potato or peanut? And the DD is very interesting to see too!

The 97th Infantry Division is one of two that served in both the EAME and the AP theaters. The other is the 87th.

Villatobas Air Station, Spain. 4 inch (vertical).