Uniform

World War II U.S. Army Uniform Jacket. This style of uniform, the M-1944, is known as an “Eisenhower Jacket” The rank, as indicated by the chevrons on the sleeves, is Technician 4th Grade, which is the equivalent to a Sergeant. On January 8, 1942, under War Department Circular No. 5, the technician ranks were created to replace the existing specialist ranks. A technician was generally not addressed as such, but rather as the equivalent line (NCO) rank in its pay grade. Officially, a technician did not have the authority to give commands or issue orders but could under combat conditions be placed second in command of a squad by a Sergeant. Unofficially, most units treated them as though they were of the equivalent rank of the same pay grade. The Technician ranks were removed from the rank system in 1948. The arm patch insignia on the upper left sleeve indicates that this soldier was stationed at a US Army Port of Embarkation. It is a red shield with a yellow ship steering wheel inside. Above the right pocket is a patch of a golden eagle. Nickamed the “Ruptured Duck,” this cloth insignia depicting an eagle inside a wreath was worn on uniforms above the right breast pocket by WWII servicemen and women who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at that time. This showed the MP’s that they were in transit and not AWOL. The soldiers thought the eagle looked more like a duck; and, because it meant they were going home, the popular saying was, “They took off like a Ruptured Duck.”