Multi-National Corps Iraq "JOC Rats"

This Iraq theater made patch is a perfect example of soldiers with a sense of humor and too much time on their hands.   Its been said that if you have to explain a joke then it's no longer funny, but here it goes anyway.

Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNCI, as seen on the left of this patch)  was the intermediate level command, stuck between the Division commands (two star generals) and the Multi-National Forces Iraq command (the 4-star general in charge of all Iraq, once GEN Petraeus).  In reality, they often acted as a go-between for the higher and lower HQs.  So you can image there was some animosity between MNCI and MNFI, especially since their offices were literally next door to each other.

The "OIF Infinity" on the right of the patch referencing the military's system of numbering OIF rotations.  It started with OIF I in 2003, but within a few years the system of sequential numbers became too confusing, so they went with simply using the years which the rotation spanned (i.e. OIF 06-07).   Infinity is a clear reference to our seemingly open ended commitment.

"JOC" stands for Joint Operations Center, same as a Tactical Operations Center but in a joint environment. So a "JOC Rat" would would be the same as a "TOC Rat", which is a slang term for someone who works in a TOC all day and rarely sees the light of day.  Similar species to a TOCroach.  Yes, this patch says Rates instead of rats, but misspellings such as this are common and most likely why the patch was being sold to just anyone and not the person who ordered it.

The "spear" the rat is holding is taken strait from the middle of the MNCI shoulder patch (shown left), and the reference to "here kitty kitty" is about the "lion of babylon" that is the major item on the MNFI shoulder patch (shown right).

Bullion Engineer Special Brigades patch

Here's a photo of a very nice and unusual bullion Engineer Special Brigades patches I picked up on an Ike jacket recently.  This design was worn as a pocket patch by Soldiers who completed Amphibious Engineer training from mid-1942 until mid-1946.  At that time it became a unit shoulder patch, worn by Engineer Special Brigades.  These special units had a focus on amphibious engineer duties.

The example shown here is worn on the shoulder, so it dates from after June 1946.

19th Infantry ENTAC Anti-Tank Missile Patch

Here's another patch representing a weapon system that is now in the bust bin of history.   It's from an "ENTAC" Anti-tank section (or platoon/company?) in the 19th Infantry Regiment.  The ENTAC (ENgin Teleguide Anti-Char) was a french wire guided anti-tank missile adopted by the US Army in 1963 and discontinued by 1969 when they adopted the more advanced TOW missile system.  The system was mounted on the back of M151 jeeps and acted as the primary anti-armor weapon for infantry units in Germany during the mid-1960's.

Here is a cut-away of an ENTAC missile, note the shape that is clearly depicted on the patch.

Atomic Bazooka: The "Davy Crockett"

Tactical Nuclear Weapons: It sounds like something from the movie "Starship Troopers", but these things actually existed.  During the late 1950's the US Army developed a small tactical nuclear warhead that could be fired from a specially designed recoilless rifle.  They  named it the "Davy Crockett" after the famous pioneer.  The theory went that when the red hoards came streaming across the boarder (either into West Germany or into South Korea), these small infantry teams armed with Davy Crockett weapon systems could "nuke" the first wave of the invasion, slowing the enemy's advance and creating a radioactive "no-mans land" along the boarder.  This would have provided the US and NATO (in the case of West Germany) with at least 48 hours to mobilize forces and evacuate families.  Not a bad theory, but I'm glad no one ever had to test it out.

The two patches shown here are from the Davy Crockett Company assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, part of the 24th Infantry Division in West Germany during the 1960's.

(above photo found here)

79th Division Doughboy, World War One

Picked up this neat portrait at an antique show over the weekend.  Certainly an above average photo when it comes to insignia!  On his "overseas" cap he wears the "T" insignia of Supply Train units, meaning that he would have worked at a forward supply distribution point for an Infantry Regiment, probably close to the trenches.  On his left shoulder he sports a 79th Infantry Division patch, probably an early french made version.  This was a "National Army" (what is now known as Army Reserve) unit formed of men from Pennsylvania.   In the middle of his left sleeve is a red "discharge chevron", showing that he has been mustered out of the service but still allowed to wear his uniform in a veteran status.  His rank patch, if any would be on the opposite sleeve.  On his left cuff are two overseas service chevrons, each representing 6 months of service overseas.  And to make it even more interesting, he is wearing a rare 1918 pattern jacket with internal pockets.  This was designed for two reasons, first was to save wool (since the internal pockets would be made of cotton, as opposed to external patch pockets made from the same wool as the coat) and it also presented a cleaner, more european experience.

Bikini Beach: 170th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam

I don't normally go after insignia from the Vietnam war, but I stumbled across a small lot of patches and insignia from a guy who was a pilot with the 170th Assault Helicopter Company that included this wonderful Vietnamese made patch.  After reading up about this unit I can really see why Vietnam era aviation is a popular area to collect.  These guys flew UH-1 helicopters in both the gunship and troop transport ("slicks") configurations.  During their time in Vietnam they performed a wide variety of missions, including much time spent in support of Special Forces, LRRP, and SOG missions.  They operated in the Pleiku Province, located in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam and adjacent to the Cambodian border.   Due to their close proximity to the border, they flew many "over the fence" missions into Laos and Cambodia in support of Special Forces teams.   The company was in the thick of it for a little over five years (1965 to 1971), winning numerous awards and commendations and participating in some pretty "high-speed" operations.  And if you watch the original "A-Team" TV series, stock footage of a UH-60 belonging to these guys was used for the intro (seen here)

Here his a flight crewman wearing the "bakinis" patch on his flight jacket, Vietnam 1969 (found at the 170th AHC website here)

African American Quartermaster, WWII

Since February is Black History Month, I figured I would share this picture I found at an antique store this weekend.   This guy doesn't have much insignia to speak of, really just a Quartermaster collar disk.  But, I thought the picture had a lot of character.  Probably dates from 1942 or 1943 since he has a khaki tie but still wears a brown leather belt.