I know this was basically the US equivalent of the 'Returned From Active Service' pin, but where did the name and/or tradition stem from, to recieve a 'Ruptured Duck'???
Well, I"m not sure if you've seen it, but it is a really crappy looking "eagle" (it does look more like a duck or something) with a circle around it. One vet told me they called it a ruptured duck cause it looked like it was exploding. Another said it was because the circle around it mad it look broken. Either way, the nickname stuck.
Just heard another story about it - The Origin of "The Ruptured Duck" Insignia The original Ruptured Duck was a cloth insignia depicting an eagle inside a wreath. It was worn on uniforms above the right breast pocket by WWII servicemen and women. It was issued to service personnel who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at that time. This showed the MP's that they were in transit and not AWOL. Well, the boys thought the eagle looked more like a duck; and, because it meant they were going home, the popular saying was, "They took off like a Ruptured Duck"...hence the nickname. I've got a feeling that this is the official history, but maybe some of the GIs didn't actually know the history behind the saying?
