New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-03
INSIGNIA, RANK
AND SERVICE OF
UNCLE SANS MEN
AN INTERESTING STUDY
WHICH ALL GOOD CITI-
ZENS SHOULD READ AND
REMEMBER MANY DESIG
NATIONS ARE NEW


The Stars and Stripes Of the Unit
ed States mean more today to tn,
people than ever before in the his
tory OF this republic. And if the flal
means more, the Uniform Of the boy,
of Uncle Sam has not failed to keel
pace in the new regard of the
public
The rank of commissioned officer,
is indicated by the following in
sigma, worn either on the shoulder
of the cost or the collar of the shirt
Gencral.-Coat of arms of United
States and two silver stars. The
rank of general has been conferred
only three times since this govern
ment was founded.
Liuutenant gencral.-One large sill
yer star and two smaller silver stars
At the beginning of this war there
was not lieutenant general in the
active service of the army.
Major general.-Two silver stars
Brigadier General.-One silver star
Colonel.-A silver spread eagle.
Lieutenant colonel-A silver leaf
Major.-A gold leaf
Captain.-Two silver bars.
First licutenant,-One silver bar.
Second leutenant.--No bar on coat
or shirt, but on dress uniform there
is shoulder strap worn, which is
bar.
Chaplain.--A Latin cross.
Non-Commissi stoned Officers.
The chevrons of the non-commis-
stoned officers are fashioned as fol-
lows:
Battalion quartermaster sergeant
Three inverted V-shaped bars with
two horizontal bars below, the lower
V-shaped bar forming tie with the
upper horizontal bar.
Battalion sergeant ma ior.-Three
inverted V-shaped bars and an arc
Of two bars forming a dorblc tic
to lower V-shaped bar.
Chief mechanic.-Two crossed
hammers with wreath below.
Chief musician.-Three inverted
V-shaped bars and an arc of two
bars the upper bar of arc forming a
tic to lower V-shaped bar and en-
closing buglc.
Chief trumpeter.-Thrce inverted
V-shaped bars and an arc Of one bar
forming a tie with lower V-shaped
bar and enclosing a bugle.
Color sergeant-Three inverted
V-shaped bars with star below.
Corporal-Two inverted V-shaped
bars.
Drum major.-Three inverted "
shaped bars with two crossed ba-
tons.
First sergeant-Thrcc inverted "
shaped bars with lozenge below.
Lance corporal-One inverted "
shaped bar.
Principal muscian.-Three invcrt-
ID V-shaped bars with a bugle be-
ow.
Regimental commissary sergeant
Three inverted V-shaped bars with
hree horizontal bars below with a
resent, points to the rear in the
lngle of lower V-shaped bar.
Regimental quartermaster ser
.eant.-Three inverte V-shaped bars
With three horizontal bars. below,
he lower V-shaped bar forming a
lie with the upper horizontal bar.
Regimental sergeant major-Three
inverted V-shaped bars with arc OF
hree bars, the upper two bars Of
lrc forming a double tie to the lower
J-shaped bar.
Sergeant.-Three inverted V-shap-
d bars.
Stable sergeant-Three inverted
|-shaped bars with a device below
epresenting a horses head.
Insignia of Service.
The War Department has author
zed the following:
The War Department is receiving
many inquiries from a pardonably
urious public as to the meaning of
he various insignia worn on the uni
orms of the officers and enlisted
1en of the Army.
The spectacle of so many soldiers
n uniform is a new one, and most
interest attaches to the little strips
{ parti-colored ribbon worn on their
,ft breasts.
These little strips, each of a pre-
cribed length of I 3-8 inches. arc
lrmy service ribbons. each ribbon
aving It's own particular significance
he strips are symols standing for
icdals and campaign badges which
he bearer is entitled TO wear
There are 10 of these recognized
y the Army. Two are medals of
onor, one a certificate of merit, and
he others badges of historic cam
aigns.
Obviously il would he impractical
Or the possessor to wear his medals
nd badges on his service uniform,
nd so wears the little ribbon symbol
lstead
Meaning of the Ribbons.
The ribbons are as follows:
Congressional medal of honor
.hte stars on a field of light blue
TX. This medal is awarded only by
ongress for some particular deed
{ gallantry in action. 1t is the most
oveted of all Army honors.
Certificate of merit badge-two
ID. white. and blue bands separat-
by thin band of white. the blue
ing outermost in each instance. This
onor is conferred by the President.
Philippines Congressional Medal
lue band IN center flanked by
ripes Of white. red. white, and blue.
lie blue on the outtermost edges Of !,
lie ribbon. This ribbon is worn by
lose men who stayed in the service
Fter the conclusion of the Spanish