My grandfather was a combat medic during ww2 & I have always been on the hunt for any info I could possibly scare up about him. My family on my dads side is as helpful as they can be but that only gets me so far. They tell me he didn't like to talk of his time in the military because of the things he saw. My dad also struggles for info because he was only 14 when my grandfather died. recently my uncle, who lives in the homestead, shows up at my door and gives me my grandfathers uniform top, pistol belt, and holster. sadly no 1911 in the holster but i was thrilled nonetheless. there was also honorable discharge papers, pay record, day passes, record of where he was and when he was there, 1 dog tag, and a Nazi eagle that looks to be made if some cheap tin material. I assume the top is a dress uniform as its much to nice to be functional in combat with the medals and whatnot. I already knew he was in the 28th ID so the bloody bucket patch was no surprise. what did surprise me was the 70th ID patch on the opposite sleeve. The records I have make no mention of this anywhere and from my understanding the 70th is out of Oregon, my dad did mention to me that my grandfather trained in Louisiana and even lived there for a shot time but never anything about Oregon. So, long way of asking does anyone know why there would be two different infantry division patches on his uniform. Thanks, Mike
I thought 28 Div was based in Wales? As there is an appeal for information at the moment to raise a memorial to them... Personally I think we should do Brit Divs before US but each to his own I have seen a few (handful) of photos of British vehicles with two different Div markings on them at once, sometimes as a symbolic representation of a formation that cannot go to war - going to war. Could be a similar thing, or postwar addition? Pictures would help as I could pass them onto some 28 Div enthusiasts I know.
From a list I posted at the other forum. http://www.ww2f.com/topic/28290-american-units-at-chiseldon-camp-wiltshire/ US Units at Chiseldon & Ogbourne St George camps 1943-45 28th Infantry Division Apr '44 -Jul '44
Mike, The 28th was a National Guard division out of the northeast, mostly Pennsylvania. After mobilization in 1940, all Guard divisions lost a good portion of their regional "flavor," as the divisions were altered to fit newer theories concerning ground combat and soldiers were transferred in and out. The 70th ID was not a National Guard division, so it would not have a state or regional affiliation. It is important which sleeve each divisional patch is on. The one on his left would the the division he was in a the time he was wearing the uniform. The one on his right would be a division in which he had served previously in combat. Consider also posting your request at WW2F.com, as it is more centered on the US involvement in WWII. This good forum here is more oriented toward the British & Commonwealth participation.
If you do join ww2f, you might like to see the photos of the 28th Div memorial at Sourdeval I took a couple of yeras ago. http://www.ww2f.com/topic/41406-28th-infantry-division-memorial-sourdeval-normandy/
Slipdigit is correct-- patch on left sleeve should be the one he was assigned to at the time of wearing that jacket. Patch on the right sleeve is called the "combat patch" or "Former Wartime Service unit", and would represent a unit to which he had previously been assigned when that unit was deployed overseas. Thus, this is not uncommon, and could represent his previous assignment to one unit, and a subsequent assignment to another unit. If you have all his discharge papers, the DD-214 form should tell all about these assignments. If you don't have that, you should try to obtain it, as it will explain all. See details at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ Good luck.
