Identify arm patch?

Can anyone identify dad's arm patch? I know what the stripes are. I'm referring to the other one. Please and thanks!

 

That's odd. I don't think it's a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (like a Division patch)--it's too low on the arm. Plus when compared to his rank stripes on the other arm, the area on the left sleeve looks markedly less "intentional", if that makes sense.

It's unusual that he doesn't have another set of stripes on his left arm--there are supposed to be a set of two, one on each arm.

When I blow up the photo a bit there is some writing--I see an 'A' and perhaps a backwards 'P'.

I'm sure someone will be able to give you a bit more.


Adam

 

More than I could see! Thanks!

 

Markedly less intentional? Not sure what you mean? I set the picture on a wood stand. Can you tell where the picture ends and the wood begins when you blow it up? Thought maybe that is what you meant. Would it be better if I set it on a different background? Edited again to ask where you are seeing the letters? I can't see them at all. Thanks!

 

I am trying to figure out his path because it is confusing. He switched theaters.
All in the year 1942:
Basic training
Company H 357th Infantry, Regiment 90th Division
In Hawaii training Army Rangers
November passport has him apparently headed to/through Asiatic Pacific Theater (I believe the picture is same as Nov. passport.)


Service most likely after the picture in question:
Christmas 1942 in Karachi hospital with malaria.
Soon after was Casual detachment 8925 b training Chinese Army at Ramgarh Training Center

After all this, he is arrives back stateside and spends last 7 months in 1857th Service Command Unit, as and MP in Texas.

 

Army and possibly Army Air corps early on...

 

I meant that the rank insignia on his right arm is obvious--we KNOW that's a patch. The thing on his left arm looks blurry and almost like it is more a trick of the light or a discoloration on the photograph than an "intentional" piece of it, if that makes sense. It has nothing to do with whatever you set the photo on, so don't worry about that.

The writing that looks like letters (or numbers like 903 as LRusso216 suggests) are along the lower edge of the "patch", in white.

 

OH! I see what you mean now. It was originally under a leather wallet type frame. Yes, I still believe there is a patch of some sort, but upon closer inspection, there is a small tear. that looks white and like 903. So, the part above the 903 tear still appears to be a patch of some sort. Well, doo doo. Pardon my French. Lol I don't have a scanner that works with my IPad. Well ATLEAST this is a picture shortly after basic. I know he was in another unit/theater shortly after..trying to make lemonade of lemons.

 

I tried to run through all the various patches I could find on google images and couldn't find one that looked right. It appears to be diamond shaped, with perhaps a stylized arrow mark? Or is that arrow shape another tear? With a clearer image it could probably be narrowed down, even though you can see only part of the patch.

 

No, the arrow shape is not a tear, and looks like diamond shape to me too. Could be a distortion, but looks like a patch.

 

Could it be this patch like on Darby? The white part at the bottom is a tear. The other white part is not a tear. Looks similar. View attachment 25299

 

That's the 45th ID, which only fought in Europe. It's hard to tie him to that Division if he was in the Pacific theater.

 

He began his service with the group of men who later stormed Normandy beach/served in ETO. He transferred out early in his service. He did not actually serve in ETO (that I am aware of), but he was originally with that group of men stateside, right after basic. (Company H 357th Infantry, Regiment 90th Division ) At some point the same year (1942) he was with Mucci in Hawaii training Rangers. From there, I know he was in the India Burma Theater and instructed The Chinese Army and replacements for Merrill's Marauders and Mars Task Force. I'm just trying to fill in all the blanks. Like Darby, he was from Arkansas. I happened to notice the patch and thought maybe someone more knowledgable than I would be able to figure it out. Thanks for all the responses.