The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-27
(By. A. b. Geldhof.)
N. b. A Washington Bureau

Washington, Jan. 25. Returning
soldiers may be prohibited from wear
ing some of the strange devices that
appear on the uniforms of men frorn
the front.
They are unofficial.
And, added to the official devices.
they cause a confusion so great that
not even army men are able to tell
what they all mean.
| have got from the War Depart
ment an official statement as to the
authorized decorations.
There are two principal classical
tons Of ribbons and chevrons- those
of the world war and those of prev
ious wars. Many decorations worn by
men in the regular army, particular
ly officers, signify they served in the
Spanish-American or some other war.
This article deals only with the new
decorations growing out of the world
war.
OF these there are two kinds, rib
bons and chevrons.
New Ribbon Worn by Only a Few
The ribbon is worn by those fortu-
nate few who have won the distin-
guished service medal. The cross is
awarded for valor in battle; the medal
for distinguished service of any kind.
The owner of each is entitled to wear
little narrow red, white and blue
ribbon on his breast If he wants to
leave his decoration home. There are
also ribbons for the French and Brit
ish war crosses.
The chevron, however is much more
common, and before long every SOL
! der in the army will wear some sort
Of chevron aside from that indicating
his rank.
Chevrons are of four kinds: Rank
i chevrons, wound chevrons, service
chevrons and discharge chevronS. All
are V-shaped. Rank chevrons have
been worn by non-commissioned Of
ficers in the army from time imme'
mortal, but the wound, service and
discharged chevrons are new with
this war.
The rank chevrons are worn above
the elbow on the left sleeve with the
point up. A lance corporal has oua
bar, a corporal two bars, and SER
geant three bars.
The wound chevron is of gold, and
is worn, point down, on the right
sleeve between the wrist and the ell
bow. Each side of the V is two inches
long and one-quarter of an inch wide
One chevron is worn for each wount
received, but If the wearer has beer
wounded more than once at the same
time he is allowed but one chevron
Soldiers who were gassed are alsC
entitled to wear the wound chevron
Three ColOrs OF Service Cheyrons
Service chevrons are Of three kinds
and all are worn on the left sleeve
between the wrist and elbow, with thu
points down. They are the same IL
size and shape as the wound chev
rons.
A gold chevron indicates the weare
has served six months at the front. Al
! additional chevron is worn for eaci
additional six months of service.
A sky-blue chevron indicates tn
wearer has served less than 81
months at the front.
A silver chevron indicates the wear
er has served six months outside Tn
tbeater of operations, which means J
| the United States. An additional cheN
ron is worn for each additional 81
months Of service.
H Both officers and enlisted men wea
! service chevrons.
i Discharged chevrons are worn
I enlisted men to show that they nav
| haen bonorably discharged from II
service The discharged chevron
| red and is worn, point up, midway d.
| tween the elbow and the shoulder
| the left sleeve.
II Tho new service chevrons have tai
en- the place of the service ribbon
worn by veterans of our other wal
on their left breasts.
H In addition to these officially al
tborized chevrons and ribbons. DO
II ons Of decorations of all sorts are D
ing worn by members Of the expeo
t,onary force to indicate the diVisio
| n which they belong The Fist q
vision. for instance, wears figure
tos. chandler: the Rainbo