Military Infantry Division Patches 11

Divisions either organized before or during World War I did not use the designation "infantry."  The re-designation of these divisions as infantry came sometime after World War I when the divisions' structure was reorganized to include specialists in a wide variety of functions.  A standard infantry division of the World War II era, for example, was designed for open warfare and, consequently, a pool of motor transport and artillery were assigned to them.  It was this combined-arms formation that gained permanent status.  Specialized combat or logistical support was provided by corps and army-level units.  Beside the infantry division, motorized and airborne divisions were formed as well as a light (truck) division, a light (jungle) division, and a mountain division.  The airborne division was initially a miniature version of the infantry division with the addition of a small antiaircraft battalion, one parachute, and two glider regiments.

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

USED BY PERMISSION

101stInfDiv

101st ABN Div

The 101st Division was organized in November 1918 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.  The design was approved in 1923, and the tab "Airborne" was added in 1942.  The design is based on one of the Civil War symbols of the state of Wisconsin, this state being the territory of the original 191st Division after World War I.  The black shield recalls the old Iron Brigade, one of whose regiments possessed Old Abe, the famous war eagle.  The story goes that a Chippewa, Chief  Sky, captured an eaglet on the Flambeau River in Wisconsin in 1861 and sold him for a bushel of corn.  A subsequent purchaser gave the eaglet to the Eau Claire Eagles (Company C of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment).  A sergeant carried him into battle, perched on a shield between the national colors and the regimental colors.  Old Abe flew to the end of his tether and screamed while the guns roared, and the brigade shouted in response.  Thus the eagle went through thirty-six battles.  He was wounded in the assault on Vicksburg and again in the Battle of Corinth.  During this latter engagement, the Confederate General Sterling Price is said to have offered a reward for the bird's capture or death.

Current location:  Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Campaigns:  World War II (Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe), Vietnam (Defense, Counteroffensive and Phases II/III/IV/V/VI/VII, Tet and Tet/69 Counteroffensives, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Consolidation I and II), Armed Forces Expeditions (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).

Decorations:  Presidential Unit Citation -- Army (streamers embroidered Normandy , and Bastogne), French Croix de Guerre with Palm -- World War II (streamer embroidered Normandy), Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (streamer embroidered Bastogne), Belgian Fourragere 1940, cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in France and Belgium, Netherlands Orange Lanyard, Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm (streamers embroidered Vietnam 1968 - 1969, and Vietnam 1971), Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal -- First Class (streamer embroidered Vietnam 1968 - 1970).

101st Abn Div2

102nd ARCOM

Re-designated:  102nd Army Reserve Command.  Worn from:  23 August 1974 - Current.

The letters "O" and "Z" above the arc represent the Ozark mountain area where the 102nd Division (the unit's former designation) was first organized.  "O" + "Z" + the arc = "Ozark."

Campaigns:  World War II (Rhineland, Central Europe).

103rd Inf Div

Re-designated:  103rd Support Brigade.  Worn from:  28 January 1967 - 17 March 1978.

Re-designated:  103rd Support Command.  Worn from:  17 March 1978 - 1994.

The 103rd Infantry Division was designed with ten color variations to denote branch of service.  They were worn from 14 September 1922 to 15 November 1942.

Campaigns:  World War II (Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

104th Tng Div

Re-designated:  104th Training Division.  Worn from:  10 June 1959 - Current.

The timber-wolf represents the heartiness and vigor of life in the western states, tenacity in pursuit of mission accomplishment, and unity of purpose associated with familial behavior.

Campaigns:  World War II (Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe).

106th Inf Div

Activated in March 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  Blue is the color for infantry, while the red represents artillery support.  The lion's face represents strength and power.

Campaigns:  World War II (Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

108th Inf Div
 

On a red oval bordered with yellow sits a yellow mace that represents crushing power.

 108th Div Tng

Re-designated:  108th Division Training.  Worn from:  30 April 1959 - Current (Without tab).

The griffin symbolizes striking power from the air and strength on the ground.

 119th Inf Div
 

On a black disk, red flames with yellow outline are symbolic of ability, tenacity, and courage to defeat any enemy.

 130th Inf Div

The background is in infantry blue, and the design, a white-winged serpent, represents swift striking power.

A black spider on a yellow disk represents deadly airborne striking power.

 141st Inf Div

The blue disk represents infantry.  The white thistle represents the ability to ward off attackers and to inflict punishment.

 157th Inf Div

On an infantry blue disk, a lion suggests the courage of the unit and its ability to destroy its enemy.

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