Overseas Bars

Overseas bars were worn by US soldiers to show how many month's they had been serving overseas. The bars originate form service bars worn after World War One. Each bar stands for 6 months overseas while serving in the US army.

The shape of the insignia is usually a yellowish/gold bar with green or khaki backing.

Ruptured Duck Patch

You received this patch if you were honorably discharged from the US Army. The patch was worn on the right chest. Above the breast pocket. Although the bird depicted on the patch is an eagle, most soldiers found it shaped like a duck, hence the name.

The shape of the patch is a diamond with in the middle an eagle in a gold circle. Usually the patch has green of khaki backing.

Meritorious Service Unit Patch

This patch is the symbol of high merit and honor. It was awarded for services for at least six months during a period of military operations against an armed enemy.
This was the predecessor of the Presidential Unit Citation.

The patch is a green square shape with olive branches. In case of multiple awards a number would be added to the middle between the branches.

US Army Service Forces

The Army Service Forces were one of the three branches of the US Army during the Second World War, the other being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces.
The Army Service Forces consisted of 6 technical services: the Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, Ordnance Department, Quartermaster Corps, Chemical Corps and Medical Corps.

The insignia is a white background with a red border and a blue star in the middle.

US Army Service Forces West Pacific

The Army Service Forces were one of the three branches of the US Army during the Second World War, the other being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces.
The Army Service Forces consisted of 6 technical services: the Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, Ordnance Department, Quartermaster Corps, Chemical Corps and Medical Corps. This patch is specific for the Western Pacific department of the service forces.

The insignia is a white background with a red border and a blue stars with a lightning bolt in the middle.

US Army Service Forces Training
The Army Service Forces were one of the three branches of the US Army during the Second World War, the other being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces.
The Army Service Forces consisted of 6 technical services: the Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, Ordnance Department, Quartermaster Corps, Chemical Corps and Medical Corps. This patch is specific for the training department of the service forces.

The insignia is a white background with a red border and a blue star in the middle.

US Army Ground Forces
The Army Ground Forces were one of the three branches of the US Army during the Second World War, the other being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. These patches are the general version for US army ground force troops patches worn by US soldiers during World War Two. Army Ground Forces were the largest training organization ever established in the United States.

The insignia is a blue, white, red striped circle.

US Army Ground Forces Replacement Depot
These patches were worn by a branch in the US Army that was responsible for remaining high numbers of troops in fighting units. These depots were used by the US Army in the Pacific, North Africa, Italy, and Europe in World War II. The placement of these units as replacements for casualties was done in large numbers, similar to battalion size.

The insignia is a white round patch with a red border and a blue circle in the middle.