Man, it sure strikes me as a State Guard type patch with Regimental number. Obviously, it would be Washington, Wisconsin or Wyoming. I'm hoping someone recognizes it.

I don’t know.   I actually knew a few people while I was in the army who wore USMC “combat patches”.  When we looked it up in the regs, it appeared that the regulations were loosely enough written that another service’s unit patch could be legitimately worn on an Army uniform.  In the early 1970s, the regs simply said “insignia of previous units with which the servicemember served in combat”.  No mention of Army only in this context. Long ago, so I don’t remember the specific regs, etc., but we did officially look this up.  Unusual, and probably not favored by the army, but I’m not sure it was formally interdicted. 

I tried looking for him on three of my usual research sources and no dice. Unfortunate, but it happens. I have a family member who went through hell in the 3rd infantry division and I haven’t been able to find a single thing. 

Never saw that before. Thanks for posting.

Just searched the forum and there are two variants the Marines had made in WW2. Never seen one of those before and would very much like to run across one.  As far as the WW1 Grenade vest are concerned, years ago when I was stationed in Georgia I used to come across stacks of these in Army Navy Stores. Its been 20 years so perhaps they are rarer now. 

My WWII War Trophy book is nearly complete and will be at the printers sometime next month. Here is a sample veteran courtesy of of the Palmetto State Armory – Freedom and Firearms Museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Temporary captain of Hitler’s yacht — bring back Luger.” 2nd Lieutenant Ronald M. Elting was born on January 1, 1907 in Macomb County, Illinois. He served in the US Army from June 1, 1942 until March 22, 1947. He died at age 44 on March 2, 1951 and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Macomb County Illinois. His service during WWII was with the 4004 Transportation Truck Company. On December 9, 1945, 2nd Lt. Elting was commissioned to captain the vessel "Hansestadt", also known as "Hitler's Yacht", from the town of Cologne (Koln) to Christhof-Ruthof shipyard. This yacht was a gift from the city of Koln to Hitler in the early 1930s and was used by Hitler, and other high ranking Nazi officials, to travel the Rhine River. The ship’s role was primarily symbolic and diplomatic rather than regional. Although it could operate in coastal and some inland waters, the Hanesstadt was not chiefly used for routine travel along the Rhine River. Instead, it served as a floating venue for state functions, hosting senior Nazi officials and foreign dignitaries in carefully staged displays of prestige. After World War II, the vessel was seized by the Soviet Union and later passed through private ownership, reflecting a complex postwar history that contrasts with the myths surrounding its origins. Captions for the yachts interior dining areas - Colorized, rare unpublished photos of the yacht’s dining rooms. The top image shows the forward dining room on the main deck, featuring large picture windows and space for an orchestra. The bottom image captures the second dining room at the stern beneath the main deck, with windows positioned just above the waterline.

Great job! That 9th patch is very nice, English made possibly. Very good read.

I believe some were also newly made for the USMC. They differ in detail to the WW1 examples.

I've got a photo in my piles of pics I took forever ago. I'll find and post it. It's the Italian church built on the complex that's now simply in a hay-grazer field. Kept as a memorial. That was 30 years ago, back when I lived/worked in the panhandle. Really cool find SharpShooter!

The old 101st Training Division once again, a summer month during the Korean Conflict.