The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-02

clear skies OF the promise OF peace;
for remembering the men and women who Of
fered up their lives for their country-those who
staid lover there as well as those who came
home
And do you remember when they came home
and staged their Victory marches" through the
crowded. cheering streets OF our principal cities
how you noticed the little patches OF color Of diff
ferent design which they wore on their left shout
ders7 Perhaps You knew then what was the
meaning OF those symbols but the chances are
that you and most other Americans as well. have
forgotten by now.
So this Is to recall It to yon-the story Of the
insignia ef the various divisions In the American
ExpedItionary Forces, "the sign Of the fighting
man.
You may not recall although hundreds Of
thousands of World war veterans undoubtedly
will, what an uproar was raised at one time over
that little patch of color on the left shoulder OF
the returning soldiers khaki coat For when the
troops were ready to embark for home, the War
department issued an order prohibiting the wear
Ing of divisional Insignia by the doughhoys upon
their return to America. 1t was 'unmilltary.r the
department said.
Almost instantly a tide OF protest rolled Into
Washington to engulf the department There
were hundred good reasons advanced why the
doughboys should continue to wear their pet dec
grafton. but chief among them was the fact that
these Insignia adopted by the different divisions,
were highly useful In making possible their iden-
LITIGATION at glance, In action or otherwise, and
for purposes either Of commentator or criti-
cism, as the case might be; that the decoration
detracted nothing from the efficiency Of the men,
but on the other hand was an incentive to proper
conduct and coordinate effort: and finally that
the man wearing It, each proud OF his Individual
| ta Ri nd
his Identity and that OF his command In the melt
| Ing pot Of the A. e. F.'s millions.
/ So the War department decided to allow the
returning soldiers to keep their divisional inslg-
MIA and this ruling was greeted with as much
widespread approval as the forbidding order mad
caused loudly voiced dsapproval.
There we're 90 divisions In the United States
military forces and each one had its distinctive
insignia Limitations OF space In this article pre-
vent the reproduction OF the Insignia OF all OF
them and an extended account OF each but the
following represents some of the more interest
Ing facts about some typical ones
First division. An elongated shield OF khaki
point down, bearing the red mineral l. lFfgnre
- Since this division was the first OF the Amer
lean divisions to 20 to France the first to 60 into
the trenches the first to suffer battle losses, the
first to capture prisoners and the first to enter
Germany after the Armistice, 1t Is only natural
that II should adopt the mineral !. Only once
was the First division last-that was In return.
Ing to the United States for rehabilitation
Second division: fve-pointed white star, hav-
ing the head OF an American Indian facing to the
left. In red and blue, stamped or embroidered on
the white star The star and Indian head was
placed on a background Of cloth OF various
shapes and colors to designate the several organ
izatons In the division. The black shield (Figure
Atrtr wal had
quarters.
Third division. square OF dark blue ciotf
with three white stripes running dlagonall,
downward from the upper right corner TO tnt
lower left. (Figure 81. The field OF blue wa'
symbolic of the loyalty OF the "Marnemen" The
three white stripes stood for the numerical des
pnation OF the division and also symbollzed TIL
three major operations In which the Third III
vision won glory during the World War-th
Marine. st. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne.
Fourth division. Four Ivy leaves about cir
Gle. the leaves and circle of green placed on
khaki background. (Figure 81. This symbol wa
formed by taking the Roman mineral Nv, whic
not only gave the numerical designation OF tn
division. but also flower. the Ivy, which mean
"steadfast and loyal" In the language OF flower
a splendid motto for group OF fighting men
Fifth division: A plain red diamond on bach
ground of khaki. tFgure 50 1t was stated 3
the chief OF staff OF the division that mo si
nlfcant meaning Is attached other than that n
color, red was selected as a compliment to u
then commanding general whose branch OF I'll