What's with that patch?

The Americal Division


Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a blue norman shield 2 5/8 inches (6.67cm) high and 2 1/8 inches (5.40cm) wide, four white stars of varying sizes all slightly tipped to the dexter, arranged to represent the Southern Cross.

Symbolism: The four white stars on the blue field are symbolic of the Southern Cross under which the organization has served.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the Americal Division on 20 Dec 1943. It was redesignated for the 23d Infantry Division on 4 Nov 1954.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/8 inches (3.49cm) in height overall consisting of a blue enamel saltire with each arm charged at its terminus with a white enamel five-pointed star, the vertical axis of each star diagonally from upper left to lower right, in front of a horizontal gold anchor, crown to left and gold cable passing through the anchor ring and behind the saltire arms, and a vertical stylized red enamel arrowhead between and touching the two upper arms of the saltire and surmounting a gold sun with gold rays extending above the saltire, overall a gold unsheathed sword, point to top and within the confines of the arrowhead, the ends of the guard between and conjoined with the inner edges of the two lower arms of the saltire and the pommel resting on a continuation of the gold anchor cable, the areas to each side of the blade where it extends below the saltire and the hilt above the anchor cable all in red enamel, all other areas between the anchor, anchor cable and arrowhead and the saltire of gold stippled, all above a gold motto scroll, the ends terminating at the lower arms of the saltire, bearing the inscription "AMERICAL" in blue enamel letters, the area between the scroll and anchor cable of gold stippled.

Symbolism: The saltire (or cross of St. Andrew) alludes to New Caledonia in the Southwest Pacific where the Division was created and first activated 27 May 1942, and with its blue color (for Infantry) and four white stars forms a "Southern Cross" and refers to the Division's shoulder sleeve insignia (approved 20 December 1943) and the area in which the Division initially served. The four stars (the brightest in the Southern Cross constellation) also allude to the four campaigns (Guadacanal, Northern Solomons, Leyte and Southern Philippines) World War II in which the Division participated. The anchor refers to the Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) awarded the Division for Guadacanal and the red arrowhead and Philippine sun for the assault landing, Southern Philippines, and the award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945). The unsheathed sword with point to top refers to Vietnam where the Division was recently activated. In view of the Division's origin and outstanding service in World War II and inasmuch as it was one of the few U.S. Army Divisions to bear a name instead of a number, the Division's former name "Americal" has been taken as a motto, the association with that name being both inspirational and of historical military significance.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 Dec 1967.

Originally Posted by ScreaminChief

The Fourth Division was organized at Camp Greene, North Carolina in 1917. The four leaves of the insignia allude to the numerical designation of the division, while the word "Ivy" as pronounced suggests the characters used in the formation of the roman numeral "IV." Ivy leaves are symbolic of fidelity and tenacity.

I've also been told that the patch represents 4 Lt's looking for north.

Hey Chief, I heard that. Well, as long as it's 4 Lt.'s I guess I can't disprove it :groannedt


SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA. Description: On a light khaki square, each side two inches in width overall and with one angle up, four green ivy leaves arranged per cross issuing from a small open circle (one leaf in each angle of the square and the vertical and horizontal axis each 2 11/32 inches in length).

Symbolism: The four leaves allude to the numerical designation of the Division while the word "I-VY" as pronounced, suggests the characters used in the formation of the Roman numeral "IV." Ivy leaves are also symbolic of fidelity and tenacity.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved on October 30, 1918 for the 4th Division without any background specified for the ivy leaf design. The design was embroidered on a square olive background (color of the uniform). On July 2, 1958, the design was changed to reflect the light khaki color background. It was redesignated for the 4th Infantry Division effective August 4, 1943.

DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device, 1 inch in height overall consisting of an ivy leaf of green enamel fimbriated gold above a scroll with the inscription "Steadfast and Loyal."

Symbolism: The ivy leaf is taken from the 4th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The motto is associated with the Division.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on November 16, 1965.

[ASU-DR]

Originally Posted by Redeye

Hey Chief, I heard that. Well, as long as it's 4 Lt.'s I guess I can't disprove it :groannedt

talk to Heath Bixel about that. he'll be at Ft. Lewis, WA here shortly.

[PFCJohnson]

For the ARNG doe sthe patch differ by state or by divison

[Arsenic]

36th Infantry Division
Texas Army National Guard

Unit Insignia:
The T-Patch was first used during the First World War. The Division was composed of men from the Texas and Oklahoma National Guards. The original choice of design was the Lone Star for Texas and an Indian Head for Oklahoma, but that insignia was adopted by the 2nd Infantry. Instead what was adopted was the T-Patch. It is in the shape of an arrow head to symbolize Oklahoma and sports a large T for Texas

More info on the 36ID http://www.ghg.net/burtond/36th/36infhist.html

[viper169]

Can anyone id this patch for me??? If you can, would you please email me at glenburnfire1@yahoo.com and tell me what unit it belongs to? Thanks a bunch.