Should add that the newspaper clipping above is from Berwyn, IL Jan 45.

This is a tough one, and I don't know if this info will help or make it worse! Anyhow:     Not sure if this is related to Charles J Kadlec above (see name at bottom of article):     Sourced from ancestry and newspaperdotcom   Dan

So we wait until a photo shows up. I bought mine from the eBay seller five years ago as a hope and prayer that it could be state guard. 

From Steve Johnson: That "W/1" patch has been "identified" as a "possible state guard hat patch" for many decades.  I have one of those patches, but it is in my maybe box.  Despite many attempts, it has yet to be positively ID'd.

Pulled another one from the vault.  Rather than an upper field cut-out black "A" the seamstress machine stitched the opening giving greater reforcement stability for the bear motif.  Plus, easier to sew a rectangle shape to shoulder rather than sew around the bear too, stitch-mark traces are evident on the bear without black background backing!

There is nobody with that name registered for the draft nor enlisted during WW2. 

Me too Jim, I even checked to see if the 2nd Armored Division had a sub unit designated as a 38th in the post war 1950s pre 1958, as in their Tank Battalions their Armored Infantry Battalions and their Armored Field Artillery Battalion, but none were.

Thank you!

I can vouch for Ben.  He bird dogged a great set of medals to a WWI submariner for me a few years ago.