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Insignia on your dress shirt

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by Leatherneck, Jan 14, 2003.

  1. Leatherneck

    Leatherneck recruit

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    I was just wondering what insignia, besides rank insignia went on your dress shirt, and where it went. Thanks
     
  2. Doc Raider

    Doc Raider Member

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    On american army dress shirts? Division on upper left sleve. Sometimes "former" or "combat" division on right sleve. Enlisted ranks below that, with lowest points near the elbow. Overseas hash bars and 3-year service stripes near the outer left cuffs. Meritorious Unit Citations (for service units - a gold wreath in a green box patch) on outer right cuff.

    Officer rank differed. I beleive early war was one rank on each shoulder epaulette, and a US and a branch (like infantry) on collar. Later it changed to Rank on right collar and branch on left collar.

    If a combat infantry badge or jump wings were earned, they were almost always worn, even on the shirt over left pocket (I've also seen on the flap of). Sometimes ribbons were worn over left pocket. Pres. Unit. Cit. ribbon over right pocket.

    There were always exceptions / variations. If it was just worn under an Ike jacket, it usually didn't have much on it. Regemental insignia were usually on the overseas cap and Ike. I have lots of original shirts with combinations of all of this. There are also exceptions, like the special engineer brigages that wore the seahorse patch on their left pocket, etc. Let me know if you need anything else.
     

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