Military Items (WWII ?)

[Ifyndit]

I bought these this last summer at a garage sale for $1. Does anyone know the age, value, and what the different patches/bars are? I know the two disks are collar disks. Any help on identifying these items would be great!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[River Rat]

1st set of ribbons... European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign 1941-1945. The 2 bronze stars indicate participation in designated campaigns; American Defense Medal; Good Conduct Medal.

2nd set...the 1st 2 have me baffled; 3rd one is Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Hopefully, someone (Montana Jim) will help out with the 2 I'm having doubts about.

Went to the Navy Medals...from what I can see 2nd set...Navy Unit Commendation; Navy Good Conduct

RR

 

[snook]

The ones you are having problems with are a Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) and the center maroon one is a Good Conduct Ribbon.

 

[Montana Jim]

US Army Central



SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA. Description: On a blue disc 2 1/4 inches (5.72 cm) in diameter a white letter “A” with members 1/8 inch (.32 cm) wide within a red circle 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter and 3/16 inch (.48 cm) in width.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for Third Army on 20 December 1922. It was redesignated for Third United States Army on 10 November 1960. The insignia was redesignated for US Army Central on 29 August 2006.

DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a blue disc with a red border, the blue area bearing throughout a white capital letter “A” (as depicted on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia for US Army Central) in front of in base a gold stylized fleur-de-lis, the center petal of the fleur-de-lis extending behind and above the cross bar of the letter “A” and behind and below the red border and the tops of the two outer petals extending under, downward and over the red border and terminating at and conjoined with the feet of the letter “A” and the lower ends extending behind and below the red border which bears at top five gold five-pointed stars and the inscription “TERTIA SEMPER PRIMA” in gold letters, the word “TERTIA” in base and between the outer petals of the fleur-de-lis and the stars, the word “SEMPER” on the left and the word “PRIMA” on the right.

Symbolism: The design is based on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of US Army Central (formerly United States Third Army). The fleur-de-lis in base alludes to the initial activation of the Headquarters, Third Army, at Ligny-en-Barrois, France, 15 November 1918. The five stars refer to the five campaigns Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe, World War II in which the Third United States Army participated. The motto reflects the Third Army’s constant readiness.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for Third United States Army on 10 October 1968. It was redesignated for US Army Central with the description updated and symbolism revised on 29 August 2006

 

[Montana Jim]

The History of the 71st Infantry Division:

Activated July 15, 1943. Camp Carson, Colorado, with the artillery components made up of the mountain artillery units of the 601st, 602nd, 604th, and 605th FA Bns. and their mules, already stationed at Camp Carson and were later reorganized as the 607th, 608th, 609th FA Bns. These also cadred some of the 10th Mountain Division artillery at Camp Hale, Colorado. The historic and legendary 5th and 14th Infantry regiments along with the 66th infantry regiment which now has legends in its own right, made up most of the personnel.

Organized as a light division with 9,000 personnel and 1800 mules -- as a mountain division, transportation being the army mule with 75mm howitzers, schooled in mountain and jungle warfare. No motorized vehicles. Manuevered against the 89th Division in Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation near Camp Roberts, Californina.

In June,1944, reorganized as a mechanized triangular infantry division with 15,700 personnel. Infantry regiments increased from 2,075 to 3,350 and the artillery three artillery battalions swapped their 75mm howitzers for the larger 105mm howitzers and picked up the 564th FA Bn, which had 155mm guns. This conversion took place in Fort Benning, Georgia .

Deactivated March 11, 1946, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/4020/71st.html

 

[Ifyndit]

Re: Military Items (WWII ?) Thanks to all who indentified the items!

Thanks to all for the identifications! I figured these items were older and for a buck I couldn't pass them up! Not only did I find out what the items were I also learned a lot. It never ceases to amaze me how much one can learn from the items we have found!

Thanks again! Merry Christmas!