Military Commands Patches 5

Information extracted from the book "US ARMY PATCHES"  by Barry Jason Stein

USED BY PERMISSION

Southern Def Cmd

The shield represents the defensive mission of the command, and the wavy white bar is symbolic of the mission to protect against attacks across the frontier.

Western Def Cmd

The black mountaintops, associated with the western United States, form the letter "W" which identifies the Western Defense Command.  The sun is usually associated with California and the western states.  The red sky represents artillery.

New England Frontier
Def Sector

Re-designated:  New England Frontier Defense Sector.  Worn from:  23 March 1942 - 1 July 1946.

The design is of a single artillery shell, indicating the unit's designation.  Gold and red are the colors of artillery.

N.Y.-Phila Frontier Def Sector

Re-designated:  New York -- Philadelphia Frontier Defense Sector.  Worn from:  23 March 1942 - 1 July 1946.

The design is of two artillery shells, indicating the unit's designation.  Gold and red are the colors for artillery.

Chesapeake Frontier
Def Sector

Re-designated:  Chesapeake Frontier Defense Sector.  Worn from:  6 April 1942 - 1 July 1942.

The design is of three artillery shells, indicating the unit's designation.  Gold and red are the colors for artillery.

Southern Coastal
Frontier Def

Re-designated:  Southern Coastal Frontier Defense Sector.  Worn from:  6 April 1942 - 1 July 1946.

The design is of four artillery shells, indicating the unit's designation. Gold and red are the colors for artillery.

Pacific Coastal
Frontier Def
 

Re-designated:  Pacific Coastal Frontier Defense Sector.  Worn from: 6 April 1942 - 1 July 1946.

A single artillery shell over a nine-sided star represents the unit's mission and numerical designation.  Gold and red are the colors for artillery.

CBI Theater

The design of the insignia was approved in 1944.  The twelve-pointed white nationalist Chinese sun is representative of China.  The five- pointed white star, simulating the "Star of India," is representative of India.  The red and white stripes and color blue, adapted from the national flag, are representative of the United States.

HQ ETO

The design of the insignia, approved in 1943 by the quartermaster general, is that of twin thunder bolts which represent ground and air forces breaking the chain enslaving Europe.  The thunderbolts form the letter "V," the "Victory" symbol, common to both the British and United States forces.

COMMZ Personnel ETO

The design of the insignia is that originally approved in 1944 after the consolidation of the Headquarters European theater of operations (HQ, ETOUSA) and Communications Zone, European theater of operations (the supply element of the command) which was re-designated in 1945 as the Communications Zone Personnel, European theater of operations.  The twin thunderbolts represent ground and air forces breaking the chain enslaving Europe during World War II.  The thunderbolts form the letter "V," the "Victory" symbol, common to both the British and United States forces.  The Army Service Forces insignia, blue five-pointed star upon white, refers to the supply function of the organization.

USEU COM

Re-designated:  European Command -- United States Army Element.  Worn from:  2 April 1992 - Current.

The design of the insignia was originally approved during World War II.  The stars represent the liberation of the peoples of Europe and the victory eagle, with wings raised in the "V," is symbolic of victory.

Ledo Road

Approved for local wear only.

A white road climbing a mountain toward China, which is depicted by the symbol for the Chinese sun.  The three white stars represent the three major countries involved in building the road:  China, Burna, and India.