Table Of ContentAMERICAN
MILITARY PATCH
GUIDE
ARMY - ARMY Alt FORGE - MARINE CORPS - NAVY - CIVIL AIR PATROL
NATIONAL GUARD
AMERICAN
MILITARY
PATCH
GUIDE
BY
J.L. PETE MORGAN
AND
TED A. THURMAN
-
AMERICAN MILITARY PATCH GUIDE
by
|. L. PETE MORGAN AND TED A. THURMAN
‘Copyright 1997 by James L. Morgan, Jr ard Ted A, Thurman. A rights reserved. No par ofthis
‘publication may be reproduced, siored in a recieva! system or transmitted by any means, electronic,
mechanical or by photocopying without written permission from the publisher.
Please note that some ofthe designs pictured inthis book are copytighted. Before reproducing any
designs, please check with the publishers fst.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number -97-070459
Hardcover Edition ISBN - 1-884452-33
Softeaver Edition ISBN - 1-884:
Telpone N60) 362051
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Army Groups
‘Ames
Cops
Divisions
Cavalry
Armored Cavalry
Armored Units ons
‘Army Ground Units...
‘Chemical Units
Regimental Combat Teams
Airbome Units
Infantry Units...
Anillery
Infantry Brigades...
‘Armored Brigades...
Anillery Brigades
‘Ordnance - Maintenance.
Rangers
Special Forces
Recundu.. .
Amy Air Forces.
Amy Air Force Ares
‘Army Aviation
‘Scout Dogs. "
Distinguished Unit Citations
Signal Corps .. ‘
Medical sennnn
Military Police ..
Engineer.
Civil Affairs Brigades
Miilitury Intelligence
‘Transportation Corps «
‘Support Units :
Amy Reserve Commands
‘National Guard Headquarters
Army Logistical Commands...
Schools - Centers - Academies...
Military Aid & Advisor
‘Commands..
Personnel Related
US. Navy i"
USS. Marine Comps
Tabs
Civil Air Patrol
Civilian
Special Fores
Flashes
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to zeoognize ard to thank many people for their help in preparing this guide
Among the individuals who have given freely of their time, good advice and support are: COL,
Frank Foster, Linda Foster and Ist LT Lee Foster of Medals of America: Tack MePhe-son of Lancer
Militari; Don MeGrogan; Ira Newman of Action Embroidery Co.and Jim DiRosa of Quartermaster
Uniform Co.. Special thanks goes to Duane Neyens of Battle Dress Unlimited for penning use of
bis extensive collection of US Marine Corps patehes.
We also deeply appreciate the efforts of COL. (Ret) Gerald T. Lachina, Director of the U.S. Army
Institute of Heraldry and Mr. Thomas B. Proffitt, Chief, Heraldic Services and Support Division of
the U.S, Ariny Insitute of Heraldry and their stall for theis eguitesy in reviewing the material for
accuracy and coatent.
And the most sincere thanks to Sara Morgan and Lang Thurman for their encouragement, suppor,
hholp and patience with Pete and Ted while they spent many long hours assembling, cataloging,
collating, scanning and computerizing the entite collection,
Cf course, the most praise must go io the people who enjoy and eollect patches. ‘Tits book ts for
you ard we hope that itis some help in increasing your enjoyment and that it will serve not only as
‘reference sourve but also as an aid in accumolsting and estaleging your collection,
“This isthe firs edition of this work. We hope to have several nnore. Auy errors are the fault of the
authors and we spologize in advance. If you have new or different designs that we may incorporate
in furure editions, or if you would like to discuss anything herein, including sources were t0
‘obtain patches for your use, please contact she authors:
ILL, Pete Morgan Ted A. Thurman
5914 E, Cacius Wren Road P.O. Box 2361
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253, Prescott, AZ. 86302
A Few Words About Patches In General
- And This Book In Particular
While the idea of using a shonleer sleeve insiguia w identily u particular unit in the fete had its
American startin the civil war, its’ U.S. Army rebirth in the Gventieth century was not without
controversy. The story is told that in October of 1918 in France, the Sst “Wildeat” division began
‘wearing an clive-drab circle with the black representation of a vldcattheroon, ‘The design was to
represent that the division had trained at Camp Jackson in South Carolina on the tanks of Wildest
(Creek, General Pershing felt that this was detrimental to uniform discipline and ordered thatthe
patch be removed. Afler his stl studied the situation abit further, it was ound that the ea of eae
‘nit having a unique design or thetr uniform had a positive morale efeet on the troops, and, ene’
warfare being what it was in WW [, the army needed cll the positive effoet it could find
Being fairly smart (and, afterall, he was the Commanding General), Pershing then ordered that all
‘units should design a shoulcer slecve insignia and proceed to wear iz on their uniforms. This gave a
fcling to the individual thst he wes a member of a particular group and should take pride in the
special accomplishments of that unit, Thus, began the army's headlong rush into insignia design
Soon, every unit had to have their own distinguishing marks on everything from the indivi
soldier to veticles, equipment and in some cases, even buildings,
With the advent of WW IL and the resulting explosive buildup of the military, shoulder sleeve
insignia (SSL) designs prolicerated. Hunidreds of new desigrs appeared almost overnight. Desixns
were coming ir fror the units themselves, along with professional designs from Hollywowd and
[New York. An entire industry sprang up almost overnight of designers, embroiderers, distributors
and of cours, collectors.
‘The purpose of ths book isto provide a military reference source concentrating primarily on U.S.
Army designs where most shoulder sleevs insignia originated, However, we have incorporated seme
of the most popular U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps designs that will be encountered. Keep in
‘mind that in L947 with the advent of the realignment ofthe armed services, several major changes
occurred. The U.S. Air Force was created and separated from Atmy cont to beceme an indepen-
dent entity and the U.S, Marine Corps ceased wearing patches on uniforms.
Future volumes will portray the U.S. Air Force patches, We have included a section inthis book to
ie snme ofthe “UIroffically Authorized” palches prevelent in the U.S. Marine Corps today.
ficial and variant desiuns inthis book. It simply because these patches are
indoubtedly be encountered. We have made no distinction be:ween “origi
‘designs, This is an ongoing debate best left to those who revel init
‘With certain exceptions, the patches pictured in this book are from the auther’s collection, We hope
‘that you grin as much enjoyment from the hobby as we have, GOOD HUNTING!
Patch Production Through The Years
Methods ofconstration and mazeral used in making patches hive been extremely varied verte years. Fromthe
‘hos! basic teehvipieeta he ighly soghistcated compet eperations the eal is always been to produce
‘signet someone var weer with prideand purpose
Originally, apgliques were simply colored bits of cloth sewe together
fonuke Gesen tia instihe used. (illestration 1) This fed tothe
Rligrstsingsmyrideredon bits of uniorm loth First bs
UUlletation #3) miter withthe deveropmeat of
Production became the not
Early paehes were rade by machine wih the design
Fabncand the maker sinply Loved the draving aiag e ingle
Howie, This ira shu sthod, and takes skilled operat 9 srevluce an
couraie design, Ths commonly seen on in-country made Vien
rapuiches if ustration #31
Milustration #1
lusiration #2
lathobociening, the most popular fbrieg sed were a
huniformonvwhich he design eas embzeidetet Then, th
oulardsitshed gn hesolgises uniform. the
hack int la 19a century permaled the use bos arvols ot base
falc wihasinauy as 36) needs entrain aoe. BY te rte ot
SHV the Sealy stich had become the andard method by hich mst a
Usmiitory patches were prodacedHeen ae Ihe machine wes developed
lit hiss soretimes eferedio a8 "Swiss" cmoreidery. The
ped ike dowble-erded to's, heoee, te term “Se nM (German:
1a example of he sell sites shown es raion #4,
Illustration
Another 191 century invention that was useto produce patches in arge
‘Slume woe the Isequard weavingmactine. Thi method of weaving was
evelope ia France and employed serie of punched eats which
Petmitted sites mars tee predorermined pater to peducethe design
SC dcsigne are made i one lug ribo hn then al "om the stp as
noeded. This method js comment used today te make clocking labels
Fbboos anc fi sik ebrics. A foremost producer of WW German
[igatu using his nethodwasthe firm Bendy tala Yo
ihe word oF isigh re BEVO" spony ous wil is 9
Hlustration #8
‘With he ise in corypatetectrony, patches
} ars produced nday ingrester quot and
fcotrcy ay eer blr The sal achnes
fan produce from ane totwenty preesat ime
Using multiple heads wich etinaaesthe
hocesstyof rereading the meelesforcslor
hangos. By using cempaters te possbleta
ite rita clr and acy
design repeated ih every pach sna produstion
run (ittration 96)
“There are several methods sed to finish the
edges or plus o prevent te eribroney
‘omunraveling. 1! the paten seat vom fet,
theres normaly ao fining aod the cies
arelettraw. Inevcsingle needle ype,
fommion forthestitshto continue teound he
Derimeterorte paren tilustiaion
Mustraiion #6 ‘Theeameis iucuflaud stitched designs
Miustration 87
For hifli nade patcs, tin ane ors retin ofthe perimeter sith 0 siemply be teed perperdicularto
{thewain body stitch. (lilustzation 8) Thiewonld inefect cekia the sitehea and pocrontrareling, The eat
patch design Would then he cl nm the aia halt fac aed the process was cosipated This scaled «ea
ace
In the 1950's, The Merrow Sewing Machine Company developed a miehine that
ould-nake® heavy ovetvek stitch around the outer perimeter of patch This
$tch would produvouy ayer would umvel eapite rough handling.
{testation #0) Tai "morrwsna hes become the staadued mith ishing
‘gos andisscenn almost all mlitary patehes made sines the mis-1060
‘ase fabrics upon which the emoroideryis dane ave Iso change daring the
years Or ginaly, na url bers were used-cettch won, ad nen. This
ontinaod until the ate [930s and the development of man nade fibers” At this
Pos, t hacame less expensive to ase newly develoned polyesters or blend
Fstsad of pure nstoral pods. Later day mutase sie towme
blended palyexerhare hocavse of he sdvautages of being slorfastons having
‘minimal rinks,
This salso rue ofthe colored thread used to make thedesign. Inthe current
aarker, i's very din oid patches being embroidered wit anything
excepts blended pester thread, Many atetapts have bees sae te yt
oterndne esas of patch throsgh the typos of aiaufacuces oor: of tread
ssc de bobbi adler canter. Ono tthe tc ight, rr es
Mlustration # Sol nd tase tests, None of these are abeoletely scours in dating the
ade harufscuoot paich, Collectoryskould 3eas knowledgeabls a possible
Fogctding the metiods of manufacture ead constuction o patches and ake
thei collecting destsionsseenrdingty
During the Vietare War, the army changed ssi ied uniform rom the friar
(OD frigue ritorm that and been standard since WWII to Themes familia ale
Dress Lily BDL} camoutlaged Miele untvers. O theme form the
brightly coloredunitratchestencedio de'eat the camovtlage tee! desired. It
‘res taen decided to mlkeall patches int fashions. One he staneard colors
an anor for wear ony entre row BDU's. The vw patches were insides ot
bisek an clive green in der bead with exe uniform, Although the culos ote
“iter, he methods ofconstruction ane the sine user putes
Down trouuh the year since knights painted their crests on thei shields to
‘entity themselves to frien and foe alike, man has sought to gain recognition
hot oniy ta who fey are, autalzoas to whet hey are. Thus has come te Hen
‘tusing eoloed bit folk and metal worm of eorhing not cnly 8 persohal
lnsticatonbt also to andicate the quality af his srv.cein wheter endeavor
hhehacemhrced. Theshowides patents perfect exbodnest ol thie need It
litle wonder th: ths small test has proven ts value in ilin4 asic amen
need, Ifyou ate calector, hope that you haveas much ebjytrent 38 hive
Hever the ast ily years: Happy Collecting”
Mlastrasion #9
7
a
& Shoulder
are worn
World War! World War ll and after,
‘dress uniform
Early Combat Vietnam Era
Current
fiold uniforms
NOTE: Soraosal options may a iow
EbRvonteoRbaa
