American Military Patches, Other Insignia and Decorations
of World War Two by Dr. Howard G. Lanham c.2001
Army Branch of Service Insignia: Officers
Second World War
Officer's Insignia Medical Corps Nurse
Enlisted Man's Insignia Infantry
The symbolism of the Army's branch of service insignia reach far back into the Army's history and the designs themselves were reused in many different insignia worn on different parts of the uniform. The number and names of different branches also changed over time. At the time of the Second World War officers wore the letters U.S. on the uniform coat's collar and branch insignia on the lapels. The above photo is of an Army nurse. Enlisted men wore a disk with the letters U.S. on the upper right collar and a disc with their branch insignia on the left collar. In the above photo the enlisted man is also wearing the distinctive insignia of the 6850th (Nürberg/Nuremberg Trials) Internal Security Detachment on his garrison cap and lapels
in this post-war image. An infantry disk is on his left collar. (1)
Metallic branch insignia were attached with pins or clutches located on the back of the insignia. Cloth machine embroidered versions exist. Some of the insignia below are pictured with their clutches still attached.
Officer's Infantry Insignia
Enlisted Man's Infantry Insignia
This is the difference between officer and enlisted insignia. The enlisted insignia are brass (no colors)
and are placed on one inch disks.
Adjutant General's Dept.
Corps of Engineers
1st Special Service Force
General Staff Corps
Inspector General's Dept.
Judge Advocate General's Dept.
The First Special Service Force was a U.S.-Canadian commando force, which served in Italy.
Medical Corps Elements
Army Nurse Corps
Medical Administrative Corps
Professional Groups indicated by Letters superimposed on Caduceus
U.S. Military Academy
Women's Army Corps
Other Lapel Insignia
Warrant Officer's Insignia
Certain other categories of soldiers wore lapel insignia. Although warrant officers were
grades they were treated as if they were a branch.
Aide to General
Unassigned to Branch
Detached Enlisted Men
Thanks to Lars Kleine for identification of the DI.