Untitled 1



	Insignia of the 8th Infantry Division
This is not an in depth study of the insignia worn, as that would rapidly become a massive work on its own and include hundreds of minutely different examples. This is instead a collection of insignia, done more for fun really, that seems only appropriate to include in such a web site. It may assist you in identifying or dating an insignia you have found, or just serve as a curiosity The examples below are from collections of various collectors or veterans, or send in by others for identification. As we keep adding to it we hope it will serve as a reminder of the dazzling array of military heraldry in the 20th Century. As we find them we're also going to add in 8th ID related volksmarch pins and awards.

WW1 Era

	This is the first design for a shoulder sleeve insignia of the 8th Division. The Indianhead design was initially selected by the division, but was turned down when submitted to the War Department because it looked to similar to the 2nd Division Indianhead.
	This is what is generally referred to as a "Liberty Loan Patch." They were commercially made insignia sold at the end of the war to service who wanted to replace their hand made patches. They were not given out for buying Liberty Bonds, but displays of them were used to help drum up interest in the final war loan (which also got publicity for the manufacturer).
	felt version of the 8th Division patch in WW1. This was one of the more common handmade variants.

	A different machine embroidered version. Probably done after the war to spruce up a veterans uniform.
	These two examples are the most common of the French manufactured version of the division patch: bullion on velvet. The reverse shows two different backings on these hand made patches. Both are correct for the period.
	The M1907 pre-WW1 hat insignia for the 8th Infantry Regiment

WW1 era 28th Infantry Insignia
	The first cloth insignia used by the 28th Infantry Regiment. This was the Regimental marking on the unit wagons and baggage. It was turned into a red and blue cloth shoulder insignia before the adoption of the traditional "Red One" This is example is printed on the cover of the WW1 unit history.


	Unusual officer's insignia embroidered directly onto wool collar tabs. These are quite rare, with he majority of officers wearing the standard pin-on metallic insignia. These are thought to have been made in Germany during the post-WW1 occupation period.
	According to army regulations units that were awarded the Croix de guerre (by the French) twice are allowed to wear the fouagerre around their shoulder. A small insignia indicating what unit was to be worn on the fouagerre. Technically it is supposed to be a small copy of the shoulder patch however a small crossed rifles and unit number such as this was worn by some men after WW1
	A pair of enlisted men's collar disks worn in the mid war period when the unit's number was worn on the US disk, and the company letter on the branch disk.

	Olive drab bordered shoulder sleeve insignia. The army initially considered having OD bordered patches worn on the OD wool uniform, with non bordered patches on the khaki cotton, however this was not followed and both Bordered and non bordered SSI's were worn throughout the war.
	Variant embroidered on a wool backing.
	Variant embroidered on cotton twill. This may be a post war (1950's?) German made patch/

	13th Infantry Regiment
	28th Infantry Regiment
	121st Infantry Regiment
	8th Medical Battalion

50s-60's Era

	This patch was made with embroidered bullion. These were private purchase items by soldiers to dress up their uniforms. Some were made at the end of WW2, however the majority were made later on when the Division was stationed in Germany
	8th Airborne with small patch, attached airborne tab
	A common error in manufacturing is placing the arrow off tot he side such as this. There is no significance, it is only a production error.
	The Division Band had its own tab to be worn over the division insignia.
	Distinctive Insignia of the 8th Division Headquarters
	Distinctive Insignia of the First Brigade
	Distinctive Insignia of the Second Brigade
	This patch for the 8th Recon was not used in WW2 as is some times claimed. It was designed in 1955. Read more about it here.



28th Infantry Regiment Insignia of the 1950s-60s
	28th Infantry Pocket Patch
	1st Battalion, 28th Infantry (1st Division) pocket pack. Used in Viet Nam
	2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry (1st Division) pocket pack. Used in Viet Nam

70-90's Era

	And from BNC055 - I believe the patch that you are trying to identify may have been that of the 8th Division Sport Parachute Club, circa late '60's----?. If so, the "Clubhouse" was in the Division HQ's Area in BK, where members received their training and packed their parachutes. On the wall of the clubhouse I remember there being a large photo of one of the members passing the spires of a church (Notre Dame Cathedral?) on his way to his "target" during a demo. To my recollection club was born of members of the 1/81 FA (Abn) at Weissbaden, and could often be seen on the week-ends exiting CH-34's over Hoppstaeden Airfield in their, then, state of the art ParaCommander's. Subsequent jumps were made with field re-packs at the DZ. Danny Mathers, MSG (ret) USASOF
	unofficial commemorative patch - origin unknown
	unofficial commemorative patch - origin unknown

	The desert subdued version of the patch was authorized for Desert Storm. Only the few units that were still technically part of the 8th Division that went to the gulf ever received this patch.
	This tan desert style patch was being sold by a major US based "military stuff" retail shop. It has an unusual "double border" look It is probably one made especially for the retail market about 10 years after the last 8th combat patch would have been earned.
	Possibly the last official patch for the 8th Division. Only a handful of soldiers are allowed to wear the 8th on their right shoulder as a combat patch (a unit they saw combat in) for Iraq. This velcro backed ACU version would only ever be officially worn by those men who stayed in the service until the ACU's were authorized.

	Often mistaken for a variation of the 8th division patch, this is actually the 8th Personnel Command- a unit which has nothing to do with the 8th Division. Here are the subdued and non-subdued versions.
	This is a fantasy item denoting the 8th Division with airborne tab, but constructed as a current ACU style insignia. No active unit has been authorized to wear this insignia for many years, and the unit never served overseas in combat, so there should be no reason to make such an item except for the collector's market.