I would call the first patch a "Fantasy Patch".  However, it sure was appropriate for that time frame.  Was back there about a year ago and it sure has changed!  I was in and out of  MCAS Cherry Point from 1970-1991, some deployments and some PCS moves.  

"US Army vehicles in WWII were marked with blue drab lustreless enamel for identification numbers and other stenciled markings from late 1940 to February 1945, according to the Army Regulation AR-850-5. This color was chosen because it was difficult for enemy intelligence to distinguish from the standard olive drab (OD) vehicle color in black and white photographs.  The numbers were painted on the vehicles using stencils. The size of the numbers varied depending on the vehicle type:  1 inch high: Motorcycles 2 inches high: Trailers and US registration plates 4 inches high and 2 inches wide: All other vehicles  From 1943 onward, the blue drab color was replaced by white as it proved to be too difficult to see. The 1945 regulations specified the use of white lacklustre, stenciling, enamel paint for vehicle numbers. "   "Army regulation AR-850-5 issued August 1942 ordered a plain white five pointed star, as the national symbol, it was seen in all theatres from 1943 and by 1944 was the most common national identification sign.[4] The star point was supposed to be facing rearwards on flat surfaces, upwards on a glacis.[1]: 54–5 "   It was used on helmets too. As evidenced by this ID on a Kelly Helmet painted mid 1941

@General Apathy  @Johan Willaert   I have a question for the jeep experts. I think this has been mentioned before but my search skills are dismal.  What is the history of the blue numbers on jeeps? When were they used? When was it switched to white numbers?   Thank you for you help, Kat 

Very cool stuff, and rarely seen by most of us.  Thanks for the posts.   Charlie

Correct.  And no, the OPFOR Star SSI was only worn in DCUs' during a rotation. In garrison, during reconstitution week, the BDU was worn with subdued Black Horse & in Class A uni, the full color Blackhorse SSI.    You are welcome, happy to pass along this piece of history.    In 1999 or 2000, the NTC OPFOR  switched to the desert version of the OPFOR Nametape & Star SSI, phasing out the OG version. Both insignia being worn until 2002, when this uniform was phased out. From then on, NTC OPFOR wore a mix of civilian, military & Middle East-style clothing. To appears as guerilla/insurgent forces, which were faced in Afghanistan & Iraq at that time.    Now since 2014/2015, when the DCU began reissue to NTC OPFOR. The SSI worn on the coat is a desert Blackhorse SSI patch. Along with the desert OPFOR Nametape. From recent DoD website & social media photos, soldiers wear rank insignia on the right collar & DCU branch insignia on the left. *The OPFOR Star SSI & OD collar tabs are no longer worn.    Note: Soldiers could wear either pin on or embroidered rank and branch insignia on the coat. Your coat (SSG Lucero) has sewn on branch insignia on the collar & rank insignia on right breast pocket. SFC Ashford wears the pin on for both. 

SR-71, RAF Mildenhall (dawn operational or training mission - I have no idea). My crew and I were holding short of the active runway in our trusty C-130 while the SR lined up on the active perpendicular to us and stopped. Then it slowly brought up the throttles into afterburner -flames nearly twice as long as the jet itself. We thought our C-130 was going to shake apart on the spot until the SR finally let off the brakes and blasted down the runway and went airborne. My crew and I were still numb from the noise and vibration as we were eventually cleared to taxi onto the runway for our takeoff.   I'll never forget it.

Your CBI guy was in an Aviation Engineer Bn, which would account for the engineer brass.

I’ve had one for a while and recently picked up the other two. Slight variations in the three.  All have the same casting number.  However, the font is different and one has the ordnance bomb. Any info about authenticity and production timeline would be greatly appreciated.   Jay

Not my grandfather. Bought it from grandson of the vet.his grandfather was in the navy.he is from philadelphia Pennsylvania. Also got the pee coat to.togother unit.the vet is from philadelphia which is close by to me bucks county 

Those are very minor issues - the type that often existed when these were issued. You could use a dry soft toothbrush very lightly on the steel bits but frankly, with 50 years of collecting and archival training, you are best to just leave it alone. in 99% of cases attempts to hide or 'fix' normal wear, age, stains, and use wind up turning into the dreaded "I-see-you-tried-to-repair-it" look.  Most collectors/historians etc. would rather see an issue normal for its age than a blatantly modern intrusion left by an amateurs recent fix-it attempt.