This page provides information to help research the uniforms, medals and ribbons in your collection.   The soldiers in Italy wore a wide variety of uniforms.  There is no way to describe all of them in detail.  Similarily, there are many medals and awards that could be earned by soldiers in Italy, which I will not cover.  This page only covers the basic uniforms of the Infantryman and the Campaign Medal (and ribbon) and other insiginia that was common for soldiers in Italy.  Of course, the details on how the medals and patches were worn on the uniform would apply for soldiers in France or Germany, as well.
   During war, the Campaign Medals and Good Conduct Medal were awarded with only a ribbon, as the medal was usually not available.  Therefore, when you send in the form to the Government requesting personel records, they will send a set of medals with the veteran's name inscribed on the back.  They will only do this if the veteran signs the form.
   The patches and pins worn on the US uniform were optional for some units.  These were not worn in combat, of course; only on the dress uniform or the Ike jacket.  On the lapels of the collar were usually worn a disc with "US" and the branch insignia and, below this, maybe a pair of unit insignia.  There were hundreds of unit insignia pins.  This page illustrates a few of the examples worn by units in Italy.

Menu for this Page.
 

Medals & Ribbons	Medals earned for service in the Italian Campaign.
Patches & Badges	Sleeve patches, proficiency badges and other insignia
DUI Pins	Distinguishing Unit Insigina Pins worn by units serving in Italy.
Branch Pins	Collar discs, indiating branch of service.

 US Divisions Table - Contains images of the Division shoulder patches for ALL infantry divisions of the Army.
                                  Also includes a table of the infantry regiments & artillery battalions for each division.

 

Medals & Ribbons

This section provides information on the medals and ribbons that would be worn on the uniform of a soldier who served in the Italian Campaign.

Campaign Medals earned by most soldiers who served in the Italian Campaign.
It is common for a soldier to have 3 of these medals.  Did not usually have all four.

American Campaign Medal - WWII  Service outside the U.S. in the American theater for 30 days.	European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal   Service in the European - African- Middle Eastern theater for 30 days.	American Defense Service Medal    Service for 12 months of active duty in Army, 1939-41.	World War II Victory Medal   Service in US Armed Forces between 1941 and 1946.

 

British "Italy Star" Campaign Medal     Since my site includes info on the British soldier, I thought it should include the campaign medal awarded to British soldiers for their service in Italy.    The British were more specific on their campaign medals.  Whereas, the US issued one medal for all of Europe, Africa and Middle East, the Brits issued several different campaign stars with the same basic shape.  Each star had a unique ribbon, with the Italy Star in the national colors of Italy.   Description    Front:  King's mongram & crown, with "THE ITALY STAR" embossed in ring.    Obverse:  Name of soldier was stamped on the back.  Most other medals had the name stamped on the edge.

 

Tip for Bad Spellers:         Army medals are made out of metal.

 

Patches & Insignia

This section provides information on the patches, badges and other insignia that would be worn on the uniform of a soldier who served in the Italian Campaign.

Sleeve patches other than rank and Divisional patches.

Right Sleeve

Lower Sleeve Patches         Service Stripes (Left Sleeve) >    In addition to the basic medals above, Service Stripes were worn on the lower right sleeve.  One straight stripe was awarded for each 6 months of service overseas.  It was not necessary to serve in combat to receive these stripes. < Distinguished Unit (Right Sleeve)    Wreath patch denotes a member of a distinguished unit. <  As viewed by wearer  >

Left Sleeve

Combat Infantryman's Badge    The CIB was awarded to any Enlisted soldier who was classified as an Infantryman and who saw combat.  Therefore, it was not awarded to medics, artillerymen nor airmen.    It was awarded in different classes and was worn on the Left Breast, above the ribbons.   In 1947, the Government approved the Bronze Star Medal for every infantryman who earned the CIB.

Discharge Pin & Patch aka "Ruptured  Duck"    The Discharge Pin or Patch was issued to discharged soldiers and was worn above the right breast pocket.  The main purpose of this patch was it allowed the GI to travel home while wearing his uniform and not be ordered around by an officer.     It got its nickname from the ugly Eagle in the center.

 

Proficiency Badges

Proficiency Badges were badges earned during training for things such as marksmenship and driving and aircraft mechanic.  These badges were worn below the ribbons on the left breast pocket.  The most common badge worn by infantrymen were the Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert Shooting badges. The Marksman badge was a plain maltese cross.  The Expert Shooting badge had a bullseye in the center.  The Expert Shooting badge had a wreath around the cross.      These badges were earned by qualifying with a specific weapon.  Therefore, these badges would have a bar hung under the badge the identified the weapon.   Each bar was embossed with "RIFLE", "GRENADE", "BAYONET", etc.  There were many different types of weapons.  Cavlary troops would qualify with a weapon while mounted or dismounted.  Thus, their bars were marked as "CARBINE-M" or "PISTOL-D".  It was not unusual to see a soldier wearing 4, 5 or 6 bars hanging from his Sharpshooter Badge.      See Staff Sergeant Walker's photo, below.

Bars or "Hangar Bars" for Infantry Proficiency Badges.
The Bars issued in 1930s had a white finish.

Army Marksman	Army Sharpshooter Tank Destroyer trooper	Army Expert Shooting
Pistol & Dismounted Pistol	Heavy Weapons:  75mm Recoiless Rifle & Mortar	Cavalry Sword Bar Very Unusual for WW2
Army Driver	Army Aviation Mechanic

Note:  The Navy and Marines badges were different from the Army.

For more information on shoulder patches for each of the US Infantry divisions, refer to US Divisions.

 

DUI Pins

Distinguishing Unit Insignias were worn on the uniform to identify the basic unit, such as an infantry regiment or medical battalion.  These were made of either brass or sterling silver and usually in the shape of a shield.  Some were coated with enamel or painted.   After the units went to Europe, new pins were needed for the replacement troops when they arrived.  This resulted in the many pins were made locally in Germany and Italy.    Each DUI Pin traced the traditions of that unit with symbols, colors or mottos.  Some units could trace their lineage back to the Civil War.  Some symbols represent service in foriegn campaigns, such as fish for the Philippine Insurection or a fleur-de-lis for service in France during WW1.  DUI Pins for the division was simply the division's shoulder patch represented on a pin.    The DUI Pin was optional as many units did not seem to have one.  It was not worn in combat but only on the 4-pocket tunic or the "Ike" jacket.  A pair was worn on the lapels of the uniform and one could be worn on the overseas cap in place of the entlisted man's disk.     The pin used one of three methods of attachment.  The oldest method is the (a) screw-on pin which had one threaded stud and a large nut.  Some very old ones had (b) a safety pin clasp, simliar to a safety pin.  Most of the modern pins used (c) the "clutch-back pins" which used two pointed studs that had the modern spring-loaded caps.

 

PFC Warren G. Stichtenoth, Company C, 310th Engineer Battalion,  85th 'Custer' Division This photos shows the DUI Pin of the 310th Engineer Battalion worn on the overseas cap in lieu of the enlisted man's branch insignia.       PFC Stichtenoth is wearing a combat jacket with a shirt, no tie, and a T-shirt.  He displays the Division patch and ribbons.  In his right pocket is a pen.  This would be common attire for an engineer. A color image of DUI of 310th Engineer Battalion is shown in the examples below.

More examples from Italian Campaign (Left to Right) :
     -  142nd Infantry Regiment of 36th Division,  "I'LL FACE YOU"
     -  370th Infantry Regiment of 92nd Division, "POWER TO STRKE"
     -  349th Infantry Regiment of 88th Infantry Division, "LIBERTY AND RIGHTS"
     -  351st Infantry Regiment of 88th Infantry Division
     -  310th Engineer Battalion of 85th Infantry Division, (Polar Bear denotes their service in Russia in 1918-19)
     -  442nd Regimental Combat Team, "GO FOR BROKE" (independant unit assigned to 34th & 92nd Divisions).

(Left to Right)
   -  135 Infantry Regiment of 34th Infantry Division  "TO THE LAST MAN"
   -  157 Infantry Regiment of 45th Infantry Division  ""      (Two teepees and a sea-lion figure.)
   -  180 Infantry Regiment of 45th Infantry Division  "TANAP NANAIYAKIA ALTHAIYANA "   (Cherokee language?)
   -  371 Infantry Regiment of 92nd Infantry Division "ATTACK"
   -  362nd Infantry Regiment of 91st Division, "ARMA TUENTUR PACEUM"
   -  85th Mountain Regiment of 10th Mtn Division "FIX BAYONETS" (mini-DUI; smaller than others)

(Left to Right)
   -  328 Field Artillery Btn of 85th Infantry Division "WE ARE READY"  (This version of pin does not have a scroll.)
   -  329 Field Artillery Btn of 85th Infantry Division "SINE MORA"
   -  337 Field Artillery Btn of 88th Infantry Division
   -  143 Infantry Regiment of 36th Infantry Division  "ARMS SECURE PEACE"
   -  109 Engineer Battalion of 34th Infantry Division
   -  168 Infantry Regiment of 34th Infantry Division  "ON GUARD"

(Left to Right)
     -  120 Medical Battalion of 45th Infantry Division  "WE DO"
     -  47 Armored Medical Battalion of 1st Armored Division (See biography of Henry Guarnere)
     -  313 Medical Battalion of 88th Infantry Division  "FERO SED SAND"
     -  751 Tank Destroyer Btn, support unit for 5th Army,  "ALWAYS TO EXCEL"
     -  752 Tank Destroyer Btn, support unit for 5th Army,  "FORJIS"
     -  759 Tank Destroyer Btn, support unit for 5th Army.

 

Tradition - The design of the DUI Pin were intended to tell the story of the regiment's history and tradition that dated back to World War 1 or even as far back as Civil War or Revolutionary War.  The colors usually indicated a branch of the Army; for example, blue stands for infantry and red for artillery. Some symbols on the shield represented the tradition of their origin and their local state.  The bold lines, chevrons or wavey lines sometimes referred to the front lines of WW1.  A Loraine cross or a fleur-de-lis also indicated service in France in WW1.  Acquatic creatures represented service in the Phillipines in Spanish-American War.  A prickly pear cactus represents service on the Mexican Border.

 

Branch Insignia Disks

The Branch of Service insignia was worn on every uniform even if the other insignia or patches were not.  This insignia was worn on the lower left collar lapel with the "US" insignia on the lower right. The officer's insignia differed in that theirs were not mounted on a round disk.  Officers also wore theirs branch insignia on their shirt collars.  All insignia are for enlisted men except where noted.   Insignia are NOT to scale.

WW1-era Pin for Infantry- Company F, 20th Regiment	Infantry Older Syle, 1-piece, dome. HQ of 5th	Infantry (Dome shape)	Cavalry
Armored	Crossed Rifles w/ Half Track super-imposed   Armored Infantry	Tank Destroyer Officer's Pin without the disc	Engineering Corps
Army Air Force [SEE COMMENT BELOW]	Ordnance	Medical, Enlisted	Signal Corps
Artillery - Officer Regiment/ Battalion ID 328 Field Artillery Btn	Quarter Master (Dome shape)	Chemical