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Started By
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re: How many of these Army patches do you think you could identify before using Google?
Posted on 4/30/20 at 8:52 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
Posted on 4/30/20 at 8:52 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
The Big Red One... (pun completely intended)!
0
Posted on 4/30/20 at 8:57 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
(Full disclosure - I was in the Army for almost 31 years, mostly reserve component, but also hit about 2 dozen bases and overseas stations and actually served with or alongside over a dozen units depicted here. I think I counted 10 patches here that I actually wore.)
There is a relatively consistent (not universal) pattern.
"Most" of the Roman numerals represent corps (a unit composed, most often, by two or more units of division strength or less). An exception here is the triangle of triangles near bottom center which is III Corps.
The triangles with numerals on yellow are Armored Divisons. The exception is the"IV" is the WWII IV Armored Corps (no longer in existence).
The vast majority of the patches here, the circle, polygonal or "badge"/"shield shaped patches (not otherwise an Armored or Corps) represent division, regiment or brigade elements. (ETA: Now that I've read the thread, some are Army insignia, as well.)
From the famous (2nd Infantry and 1st Cav are the larger than the other patches near the center) to the relatively obscure. Obviously there are some I don't recognize here that could just be defunct, foreign military, non-standard or just "cool" patches.
it's a nice collection, but I notice at least 1 omission - no "Bloody Bucket" (28th Division), a unit that dates back to Benjamin Franklin. Currently the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
The 5th ID (the red diamond) was at Fort Polk for many, many years when it was a FORSCOM post in the pre-BRAC, pre-JRTC era.
See man, this is a reason why I’m glad I joined the USMC. Too many different patches and meanings in the Army. I did used to know almost all of them as I did a social studies fair project on the quilt when I was in like 4th grade.
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 9:01 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:02 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
quote:
Too many different patches and meanings in the Army.
Remember when you guys peaked out at ~650k jarheads, in 6 divisions in 1944 - 1945?
We had over 11 million in the army, including all of the air force, which was 2 1/2 million alone.
Even with "the 90-Division Gamble" we had lots and lots of units.
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 9:05 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:04 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
Remember when you guys peaked out at ~650k jarheads, in 6 divisions in 1944 - 1945?
We have to use our hands and feet to count so...
I do need to learn the patches again though. I think I could confidently name half maybe. But I’m not as certain on them as I once was.
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 9:06 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:05 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
The big one in the center with the horse. Spotted immediately, brother was Air Cav in Vietnam. I was a kid schooled on westerns, his cavalry patch made me so proud. He was career military, came thru Nam with a Purple Heart and never bitched or boasted.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the post.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:05 pm to Centinel
For my baws Centinel and TigerFanInSouthland who know the answer (and probably my fellow Army Reserve officer Ace Midnight), the answer to the first authorized shoulder sleeve insignia is...
...the 81st Infantry Division (Wildcats) of the Army Reserve. They adopted this insignia while encamped along Wildcat Creek at Camp Jackson, South Carolina.
...the 81st Infantry Division (Wildcats) of the Army Reserve. They adopted this insignia while encamped along Wildcat Creek at Camp Jackson, South Carolina.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:10 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
quote:
How many of these Army patches do you think you could identify
My favorite Army patch on that cotton is the one that says United States Marine Corps.
Awesome display. Hope you cherish it forever.
Was that a shelter half/tarp for him at some point before all those were sewn on or an issue blanket?
I can’t tell the thickness on my phone.
Several of those I have fond memories of.
My late, eldest uncle from Boston on that 94th patch center bottom hit me right away.
Will probably re-edit again.
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 9:14 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:14 pm to Wolfhound45
quote:
I know it is the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). I do not know a lot about the history of the division though (other than GEN Powell wears the Combat patch - long story about that as well).
IIRC it was a composite division formed in the SW Pacific from army units already in theatre.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:17 pm to Drank
quote:
Was that a shelter half/tarp for him at some point before all those were sewn on or an issue blanket?
I can’t tell the thickness on my phone.
I’m not sure where he got that, it’s cotton and I know his mother was the one that sewed the patches on there for him through the years. His dad probably brought it home from his supply shop or something like that.
I don’t think it is a blanket as it’s not very long, it may have been an old baby blanket or something.
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 9:19 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:21 pm to DeCat ODahouse
quote:
The big one in the center with the horse. Spotted immediately, brother was Air Cav in Vietnam. I was a kid schooled on westerns, his cavalry patch made me so proud. He was career military, came thru Nam with a Purple Heart and never bitched or boasted.
Thanks for the post.
Why did the Army decide to put the stripe in the 1st Cav’s patch?
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:34 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
I could name 54 and and wore 7 of them.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:37 pm to Errerrerrwere
quote:
My grand father representing the Third Infantry! (Immediate left of the blue clover)
Same here. Two silvers and a bronze star from WWII. Only one I recognize cause of him.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:37 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
I’ve made plaques for like 6 of those units and I still can’t remember what they are
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:39 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
The one with the anchor represents the engineer special brigades, combat engineers who supported amphibious operations. Although designated as brigades, their manpower could approach division size.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:39 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
Top right A5. Fifth army. . I don’t see 85th infantry. My grandpa was fighting in Italy during the war.
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:49 pm to Cdawg
XVIII Airborne Corp is the blue dragon, though it appears to be missing the Airborne tab
Posted on 4/30/20 at 9:50 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
I could recognize exactly none, as I don’t know much about the military at all.
I suggest you spend some time and write your grandpa’s stories down as best you remember, as they will certainly become a family heirloom and will be passed down for generations...
I suggest you spend some time and write your grandpa’s stories down as best you remember, as they will certainly become a family heirloom and will be passed down for generations...
Posted on 4/30/20 at 10:01 pm to Spankum
”This one’s for typing. This one here is for dart champion. And this ones for surfing”
Posted on 4/30/20 at 10:08 pm to Spankum
Any pencil-neck dweeb can earn an Army patch.
The only 2 patches worth a shite to me:
Sorry, not sorry, Hooahs. But, sincerely, TYFYS.
..earn that Ranger tab, then we can begin to talk. (And don’t bring that weak-arse Airborne shite up in here—I’ve seen literal rocks kicked out of a C-130 on static-line and do just fine.)
This post was edited on 4/30/20 at 10:23 pm
Posted on 4/30/20 at 10:17 pm to NakaTrash
I was in 3rd MARDIV in northern I Corps in Nam and served with some Americal soldiers. Always wondered how they got that name. They surely couldn’t tell me. (Americans in Caledonia, cool.)
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