Old Military Pins / Patch...?

[Limitool]

Does anybody recognize or know what era these pins and the patch are from?

I was going through my late fathers old stuff and came across this patch with the four pins attached to it. I don't know if they were his or his fathers. Dad served in Korea and Grandpa served also but I don't know how and/or where.

The two round U.S. pins have nothing on the back of them except the clips.

The two squarer ones (yellow & blue) have "TOUJOURS VICTORIEUX" on their fronts along with 3 symbols. One the back of them is "C.P. CO." "N.Y.C." "1 P"

Thanks for any info folks.... Brad

 

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[bill from lachine]

Brad,

The "Toujour Victorieux" is French for always victorious....there's a fleur de lys and what appears to be a shamrock and possibly a thistle.

The city of Montreal has those symbols on it's flag as they were the founding people of Montreal back in the day.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[SkaBa]

The patch is 5th Armored Division. Landed on Utah Beach. Active from 1941 to 1945 and 1950 to 1956.

 

[Limitool]

Thanks.... I just discovered that myself and was so proud of myself. Was gonna hurry and post I found one of the items and discovered you beat me to it.

It's probably my late fathers as he served in Korea but I'll have check the dates you posted. But I believe early 50's would fit in with his service. I was born in 55'. Rarely would he talk about his service in Korea and only if I brought it up when I was 25+. But he always kept it short and sweet, few details and sometimes would just stare at me after I looked up waiting for an answer to see if he heard me. The details he did mention were not good ones at all. Twice he left the wood shop (he was gonna cry) and I went home... I felt bad afterwards.

But maybe the patch is from my Grandfather's service. My dad was born in 1931 so the 41' - 45' era won't work for him but I don't know if I can find out if the 5th Armored Division was in Korea...?

I found some pins that look like the U.S. ones I posted but they said they were brass and many had 1 clip in the back. Not like the 2 on these. And when I did find some different ones with 2 fasteners on the back they stated they were brass also. These 2 are very light like their aluminum or thin tin not heavier like you'd expect from brass material...? But maybe their brass and I just expect them to be heavier... I don't really know.

What about the yellow and blue pins? I looked all over and can't them....?

 

[nhbenz]

The Distinctive Unit Insignia pins (the squarer ones) are from the 45th Armored Infantry Battallion.

 

[Limitool]

The Distinctive Unit Insignia pins (the squarer ones) are from the 45th Armored Infantry Battallion.

Ok... and I'm not doubting you at all guy. But why is French words on the front bottom of the pin? And maybe that was normal... hell I don't know.... but THANKS.


1st EDIT: I assumed U.S. Is that what you meant or was it a foreign unit?

2nd EDIT: I found it on ebay and it appears to be U.S. issued... right? Any idea of what era / dates?

 

[diggummup]

The Distinctive Unit Insignia pins (the squarer ones) are from the 45th Armored Infantry Battallion.

If they are they're unofficial ones.



The 5th Armored was reactivated during the Korean was and headquarted at Camp Chaffee as a training division, Arkansas from 1950- 1956 but did not serve overseas. Units of the Division were activated and served in Vietnam. Some units are active today at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Riley, Kansas. This comes from- 5AD Online!



The US brass collar disk is a type 5 disk used from 1942-1970, thinner brass was used to conserve metal for the war effort.
Dating Metallic Insignia: Collar Disks

 

[diggummup]

I did find the motto on the Institute of Heraldry website- Army Mottos on page 124

 

[Limitool]

If they are they're unofficial ones.



The 5th Armored was reactivated during the Korean was and headquarted at Camp Chaffee as a training division, Arkansas from 1950- 1956 but did not serve overseas. Units of the Division were activated and served in Vietnam. Some units are active today at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Riley, Kansas. This comes from- 5AD Online!



The US brass collar disk is a type 5 disk used from 1942-1970, thinner brass was used to conserve metal for the war effort.
Dating Metallic Insignia: Collar Disks

Diggummup.... THANK YOU FOR THE INFO. Why do you say the 45th ones (yellow and blue) are "unofficial"? I'm curious. FYI: This patch when found last week had all four pins mounted upon the patch together. I did find the exact pin on ebay and it appeared to be U.S. (but I'm not sure). I did find the 45th Division on a Korea service website today and contacted many of the folks in hopes maybe someone would remember my father.

Is there maybe a chance he joined the 5th Armored and transferred to the 45th later? He was in Arkansas for training. He was he stated an MP and involved in other activities... whatever that was Never any details.

 

[nhbenz]

It's certainly possible my quick answer above is wrong (that would teach me for being too hurried)
But, the 45th is/was a Battalion within the 5th Armored Division, so it is possible to be part of both simultaneously.
I can't find any good confirmation of the unit insignia, only the several listings from sellers who may all be wrong for all I know.

 

[diggummup]

Diggummup.... THANK YOU FOR THE INFO. Why do you say the 45th ones (yellow and blue) are "unofficial"? I'm curious. FYI: This patch when found last week had all four pins mounted upon the patch together. I did find the exact pin on ebay and it appeared to be U.S. (but I'm not sure). I did find the 45th Division on a Korea service website today and contacted many of the folks in hopes maybe someone would remember my father.

Is there maybe a chance he joined the 5th Armored and transferred to the 45th later? He was in Arkansas for training. He was he stated an MP and involved in other activities... whatever that was Never any details.

These are the two official DUI's for the 45th Infantry Division. The 45th did serve in Korea, they saw 429 days in battle and participated in 4 campaigns.

Distinctive unit insignia (1946-68)

Distinctive unit insignia (1920-46)

​

Now I did find a DUI that is very similar to yours, only the motto is different, it is for the 58th Infantry

Regiment here- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/58th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)

The unit insignia for the 5th Armored is this- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Armored_Division_(United_States)

​

 

[Limitool]

Thank you folks... I really wanted to find out what these pins and the patch were and you all have helped. The pins were pinned together upon the patch when I found them in the box. Thanks.