Hello Gents,    I recently picked up an interesting WW1 A.E.F. - C.A.C. Group to a man from Salem, Massachusetts. ( 1st Sgt. Warren L. Phillips, 1883 - 1956, ASN 149181 ) Included within it, was an early Post WW1 C.A.C. Qualification Badge, with an 'A' underneath 'Marksman'. IIRC, aren't these circa Post 1900, but Pre WW2 issue ? How did they differ from your basic, Army Marksman Badge, or was it due to this particular Badge being authorized only for C.A.C. Personnel ? The Veteran apparently thought highly of it, as he inscribed his initials on the reverse. I'm in the early stages of documenting the Group, but it appears as if he saw a good deal of combat action while overseas, having departed CONUS on 02 August 1917. He initially departed overseas with an 'ad hoc' C.A.C. unit, the 6th Provisional

C. A. Regiment, but was ultimately re-formed into Battery D, 44th Artillery, C.A.C. until Discharge. I also determined that he was R.A. - C.A.C., having Enlisted in 1907, & was a 1st Sgt. when he left for France. Any comments or information pertaining to these CAC Marksman Badges will be much appreciated, especially a Link to any online information sources ? THANK YOU !

 

                     Best,    dpast32

These Marksman "A" badges were only for Coast Artillery soldiers. Authorized for wear from 1903-21, these were for completion of the special "A" course for rifle marksmanship. This was a 200 and 300 yard course (200 yard standing and 300 yard kneeling I believe). Coast Artillerymen had to be proficient in rifle marksmanship at these shorter ranges for land defense purposes incase of enemy infantry attacks on their forts. This marksmanship badge was an attempt to give the many soldiers serving in the Coast Artillery at the time the chance to wear a marksmanship badge. 
This was a separate award from the 1st Class Gunner's badge, which was given for completion of the 1st Class Gunner's examination in Coast Artillery studies. I  have seen both badges being worn together. The 1st Class Gunner's badge was only authorized for wear from 1903-09 however, so 1910 and later you only see CA men wearing the rifle marksmanship "A" badge. 

Silver versions of the badge were for regular army Coast Artillery, brass/gold colored were for National Guard Coast Artillerymen.

Good Morning, & THANK YOU 'agate hunter', I truly appreciate your kind & informative reply !! Yes, what you have advised is indeed correct, as the CAC Marksman Badge included in his Group was 'silver' in color. He also, albeit somewhat crudely engraved his initials on the Badges reverse, perhaps because he was proud of it, or simply as an matter of course ? I had recently sworn to myself that I would limit myself to only Rhode Island items, but I simply couldn't pass this Group up, due to both its price & content. This old CAC Soldier surely must have felt himself to be 'all Army', for as he spent most of his civilian life in either Massachusetts or Connecticut, he was ultimately was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.THANKS AGAIN !

 

              Best,    Dom P.  /  'dpast32'