WWII Veteran Tribute Jacket

Fallen Heroes

The Nation That Forgets Its Defenders Will Itself Be Forgotten. "In Memory of our troops ~ Defenders of our Freedom." This patch is about the size of an averaged size pizza; and forms the basis of the theme of the jacket. I found this patch at the "Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center" in Superior, Wi. The Historical Center is very well done and worth a visit. https://www.bongcenter.org. Richard Bong was from Poplar, Wisconsin. He piloted a P-38 Lightening through more than 200 missions over the Southwest Pacific in WWII and destroyed 40 enemy planes - the most by any United States pilot before or since....making him the 'Ace of Aces'.

106th Infantry Division.

Service in: France, Belgium, Germany and occupation duties. This was the unit patch that my friend Jim Church wore. Jim entered France D+20, which means that he came in 20 days after D-Day. Jim marched across Europe, fought in the battle of the Buldge and beyond into Germany. Jim Was my first contact in talking with a Veteran about the idea of organizing a WWII History Series. Symbolism: The blue is for infantry, while the red represents artillery support. The lion's face represents strength and power.

2nd Armored Amphibian Tank Battalion USMC.

Service South Pacific: Tinian, Iwo Jima... My friend Marshall Harris is a Marine Corporal who spent 30 days on Iwo Jima.....

First Army. U.S. Army

Service: France, Belgium, Germany, (HQ staff spent time in the Philippines as well.)

Third Marine Division. USMC.

Service: New Zealand, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, New Ireland, Guam, Marianas Islands, Iwo Jima, and island occupation duties.

Navy Construction Battalions (SeaBees). US Navy.

Service: The Seabees served with incredible distinction in every area of the Pacific Theater of Operations. They were responsible for Building/repairing port facilities, installations, airfields, roads, water storage and treatment facilities, bridges, and anything else required. The Seabees frequently served as combat troops when necessary.

Fifteenth Army Air Force.

Service: Originally formed in North Africa and attacked targets in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and other locations during the war.

Army Air Forces.

Service: China Burma India (CBI) Theater of Operations.

8th Army Air Force.

Service: Primarily a strategic (bomber) command. Based in England and conducted the air campaign against Axis targets on the European Continent to include Norway, Holland, Belgium, France, and Germany. Toward the end of the war in Europe, the Eighth could muster over 3,000 aircraft for a single mission.

6th Armored Division. US Army.

The "Super Sixth". Service: England, France, Germany.

1st Armored Division. US Army.

"Old Ironsides." Armored Divisions aquired nicknames during war time, and included "tabs" with their nicknames under the Division patch. Service: Ireland, North Africa, Italy.

5th Armored Division. US Army.

"Victory". Service: England, France, Belgium, Germany.

USS Arizona BB-39

This patch represents both Pearl Harbor, and the Veteran Ed Wentzlaff who was there during the attack and spoke at my History Series.

Second Marine Division. USMC.

Service: Florida Islands; Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands); Gilbert Islands; Marianas; Tinian; Saipan; Okinawa; Occupation Duties.

Third Army. US Army.

Service: France; Brittany; Belgium; Germany; Czechoslovakia.

Fourth Marine Division. USMC.

Service: Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima. Guy Rowe.

Navajo Code Talkers. USMC.

Filipino Battalions - part of the 1st Filipino Regiment. US Army.

Assisted in the liberation of the Philippines and the Island of Samar, near Leyte.

442nd Combat Team. US Army.

Service: Italy; France. The unit was composed of Japanese Americans.

92nd Infantry Division. US Army.

Service: North Africa; Italy and Occupation Duties.

45th Infantry Division. US Army.

Service: North Africa; Sicily; Italy; France; Germany; Occupation Duties.

European Theater of Operations.

Originally, this command was tasked with planning and executing the destruction of Axis forces on the European Continent. After American forces were established in Europe; this group became increasingly involved with the administration of service and supply. Reflected in the insignia at top center.

Army Service Forces. US Army.

Originally the Services of Supply, The Army Service Forces managed the army's logistics. The scope of this responsibility is beyond comprehension. The Command trained, transported, and supplied millions of soldiers all over the world.

506th PIR Parachute Infantry Regiment.

The 506th PIR took off for their first combat jump at 0100hrs, 6 June 1944. In the predawn hours of D-Day a combination of low clouds, and enemy anti-aircraft fire caused the break-up of the troop carrier formations. The scattering of the air armada was such that only nine of the eighty-one planes scheduled to drop their men on the Drop Zone (DZ) found their mark. Consequently, the sporadic jump patterns caused most of the troopers to land far afield of their designated DZ. Some of the sticks landed as far away as 20 miles from the designated area. (https://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/506/506.html)