Military Infantry Division Patches 8

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

80th Abn Div

Worn from:  15 July 1946 - 1 May 1952.

81st Inf Div

Shoulder-sleeve insignia were first authorized after the appearance of this insignia on the uniforms of the men of the Eighty-first Division; many units used colored markings to identify the equipment within the unit.  The red wildcat was an example of this practice, and the design became that of the insignia.

81st ARCOM

Re-designated:  Eighty-first Army Reserve Command.  Worn from:  23 August 1974 - Current.

Organized in August of 1917 as the Eighty-first Division at Camp Jackson, South Carolina.  The wildcat is common to the Carolinas from which many of the personnel of the division came during World War I.  The red wildcat was canceled in favor of the black on olive drab colors.

Campaigns:  World War I (Lorraine 1918, Meuse-Argonne), World War II (Western Pacific, Leyte).

Decorations:  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945).

82nd Inf Div

82nd Abn Div

The Eighty-second Division was originally organized in August 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.  The double "A" refers to the nickname All-American Division, which was adopted by the organization in France during World War I.  In 1942 permission was granted the division to use the world "Airborne" on a tab over the shoulder-sleeve insignia.

Current location:  Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Campaigns:  World War I, (St.-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918), World War II (Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes - Alsace, Central Europe), Vietnam (Counteroffensive Phases IV/V/VI, Tet and Tet/69 Counteroffensives, Summer-Fall 1969), Armed Forces Expeditions (Grenada, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).

Decorations:  Presidential Unit Citation -- Army (streamer embroidered Ste. Mere Eglise), French Croix de Guerre -- World War II (streamers  embroidered Ste. Mere, Eglise, and Cotentin), French Croix de Guerre -- World War II Fourragere, Belgian Fourragere 1940, cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes, and in Belgium and Germany, Military Order of William (streamer embroidered Nijmegen 1944), Netherlands Orange Lanyard).

83rd ARCOM

Re-designated:  Eighty-third Army Reserve Command.  Worn from:  21 August 1974 - Current.

The cryptic spelling of Ohio refers to the division's origins in this state.  The Eighty-third Division was organized in August 1917 at Camp Sherman, Ohio.

Campaigns:  World War I, World War II (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

84th Inf Div

The ax is a reminder of President Lincoln who split rails in Illinois (the unit's origin) in his youth.

84th Div Tng

Re-designated:  Eighty-fourth Division Training.  Worn from:  18 May 1959 - 1995.

This division, once known as the Lincoln Division, was organized during World War I from personnel in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, all states with which President Abraham Lincoln was associated.

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

84th Abn Div

Worn from:  19 December 1946 - 1 March 1952.

85th Div Tng

Re-designated:  Eighty-fifth Division (Training).  Worn from:  1 June 1959 - July 1990 (new patch design).

The letters "DC" symbolize "Custer Division," a nickname derived from the formation of the division at Camp Custer, Michigan during World War I.  The unit is known for courage and self-sacrifice, the same qualities exemplified by the life of General George A. Custer.

Campaigns:  World War I (St. -Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918 Russia 1918), World War II (Rome-Arno, Northern Apennines, Po Valley).

85th Div Exc

Re-designated:  Eighty-fifth Division (Exercise).  Worn from:  1995 - Current.

Scarlet and blue are the colors used for the division's organizational flags.  Together with the color yellow, these shades allude to the three combat arms.  The octagon and the pentagon together represent the organization's numerical designation.  The pentagon and octagon are positioned on an angle and aligned with one another, alluding to the sensitive and active balance between all elements of the division and its mission.

Campaigns:  World War I, World War II (Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley).

86th ARCOM

Re-designated:  Eighty-sixth Army Reserve Command.  Worn from:  21 August 1974 - Current.

Organized inn August 1917 as the Eighty-sixth Division at Camp Grant, Illinois.  The black hawk, with initials "BH" superimposed on the red shield, are symbolic of the nickname "Blackhawk Division," formed in World War I with men from northern Illinois.  The Eighty-sixth and the Ninety-seventh were the last two divisions to be deployed to the European theater in World War II.

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