The world's most complete illustrated color guide and reference on United States Military Patches (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia). Covers World war I, World war II, Vietnam, Kuwait, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq to present. Over 4,400 Military Patches in color for the Army, Marines, Army Air Force, Navy and Special Forces. Grouped by service from Armies to Regiments, from Airborne to Armor, from Infantry to Artillery all of the services are covered. With way over 4,000 different full color military patches the guide provides the most complete and detailed reference of United States Military unit identification patches in the world. All three smaller earlier editions of this guide have sold out and have become valuable collectors items and treasured references for veterans, collectors and historians.

The purpose of this book is to provide a military reference source concentrating primarily on U.S. Army designs where most shoulder sleeve insignia originated. However, we have incorporated some of the most popular U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps designs that will be encountered. Keep in mind that in 1947 with the advent of the realignment of the armed services, several major changes occurred. The U.S. Air Force was created and separated from Army control to become an independent entity and the U.S. Marine Corps ceased wearing patches on uniforms. Also includes a section of "Unofficially Authorized" patches prevalent in the U.S. Marine Corps.

army branches - infantry, artillery, cavalry, and engineers - as well as the service and support branches comprising doctors and nurses, chaplains, musicians, quartermasters, military police, and the many others who have made up the U.S. Army. Insignia worn by all soldiers, such as eagles, devices with the letters US, and other letters and numbers, are also described and illustrated. Historians, military collectors, military reenactors, antique dealers and collectors,

A Complete Guide for you! - How to Identify Veterans' Medals - How to Obtain Veterans' Medals - How to Display Veterans' Medals Features complete full color plates of all Army Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges, and Insignia with all criteria. Full color precedence chart for all US Army awards and ribbons with devices. Shows insignia and ribbon placement on uniforms for WW II, Korea, Vietnam and present Pictures, criteria, and specifications of "all" Army skill and specialty badges. Details on how to claim your or your family's medals. Chronological display of Army rank and branch insignia from 1941 to present. Commonly awarded foreign medals and ribbons shown in color with details. All WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Liberation of Kuwait and State Command major unit Shoulder Sleeve insignia in full color. "The most complete reference ever published for all U.S. Army Medals and Insignia...in a class by itself!" "A must have book for military personnel, veterans and students of Army history." "The best Army military awards book every published, a fivestar production!" "The best book bang for the buck in the past ten years...worth twice the price!"

Beginning in the Civil War, the U.S. Army sought to find an effective system to distinguish troops from different units. In the closing days of World War I, it finally arrived at a practical and desirable solution with the adoption of the shoulder patch or shoulder sleeve insignia. For more than eighty years, this often simple device, has been the source of pride and inspiration for servicemen everywhere. This new book (the first of a multi-volume set), with a gallery of more than 800 color and sepia toned illustrations of original insignia and period photographs, documents the evolution of these special insignia. From the period beginning with World War I to the Korean War era, you won't find a more indispensable guide for the study and collection of U.S. Army shoulder patches. Collectors will especially enjoy the handy reference section for determining whether a patch was made by an ally or a former foe. With special emphasis on theater made patches, this volume and the ones that will follow are sure to be a collector's paradise. Without a doubt, this is the finest and most complete effort to date on the subject. AUTHOR:

Towards the end of the Great War, the United States Army started to distinguish its units with cloth shoulder insignia. From 1941, due to the terrific expansion of its numbers, these multicolored shoulder patches became more numerous and contributed to the spirit of the new units. This guide illustrates in full color the insignia worn by Army units, in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, together with a brief history and the main variations.