United States Army Europe SSI

The shoulder sleeve insignia of the United States Army Europe is perhaps one of the most enduring heraldic items to emerge from the final months of World War II. Originally approved in 1944 for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces (and sporting a black background), the SSI was re-designated with a blue background in August 1945 for U.S. Forces, European Theater. In 1947 the insignia was re-designated for the European Command and then, on 7 November 1952, assigned to United States Army Europe - to which it has remained attached ever since.

The SSI seen on soldiers in Germany
after WWII
(Photo: Stars and Stripes)

Headquartered at the Lucius D. Clay Kaserne (until 2012 known as Weisbaden Army Airfield) near Weisbaden, Germany, United States Army Europe oversees three joint and multinational commands as well as several brigade and regimental level combat and support units. Having been born in combat, the command has adapted to varying mission requirements on the continent throughout the Cold War including humanitarian and peacekeeping. Currently, United States Army Europe forces are committed to battling terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere.

The cute edge construction of this patch, as well as the nice amount of snow present on the reverse, indicates that it dates from some point between the post-World War II period and the mid-1960's. With the longevity of this SSI resulting in these patches being somewhat common, the $4.00 (including shipping) that I paid for this one on eBay is a reasonable expense.

1st Army Korean War-era SSI

It seems fitting that I should kick off this blog with the a "first" of some sort, and it just so happens that the mailman very recently delivered this nice little First Army shoulder sleeve insignia patch.

Originating in France on 10 August 1918, the First Army has a long and storied history. After participating in several campaigns in the closing months of WWI, the organization was demobilized but reactivated in 1933 as the parent unit of the First, Second and Third Corps. Having the responsibility for overseeing the training of Army personnel in the northeastern United States, the growing threat of war in the late 1930's found the First Army participating in massive maneuvers in Louisiana and North Carolina. The unit continued as a training outfit well into the World War II years, when Omar Bradley took the helm in early 1944 and began preparations for the Normandy landings. The First Army went ashore on D-Day, spending the remainder of the war heavily engaged with German forces.

After the war, the First Army returned to its garrison at Fort Jay, New York, where it resumed its previous training responsibilities. In 1973, the unit switched from training regular Army forces to Army Reserve components. Twenty years later, and in conjunction with a move from Fort Jay to Fort Gillem, GA, the First Army added to its mission the training of all National Guard units as well as Army Reserve forces. Today, the First Army is headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois and remains the responsible authority for the training of all Reserve and Guard forces.

Now, back to the patch. The black "A" - which symbolizes "Army" and is the "first" letter of the alphabet - was authorized for wear in 1918 and approved by the War Department in 1922. From that time until 1950, when the red and black background was approved, First Army patches typically sported an Army green background. Many, many variations exist with service-oriented color schemes filling the upper portion of the "A". The example that I purchased, given its background color scheme, cut-edge manufacturing and amount of visible "snow", indicates that it is from the period between the start of the Korean War and pre-Vietnam.

For the $3.99 (including shipping) investment that I made via eBay, I'm happy with this new addition to my growing collection.