From 1924-1939, an American infantry division incorporated the swastika into its unit patch.
File:Patch of the 45th Infantry Division (1924-1939).svg - Wikipedia
File:Patch of the 45th Infantry Division (1924-1939).svg - Wikipedia
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Devildoc
Verified Military
The 45th infantry division was comprised of mainly native Americans, from Oklahoma. That was a native American symbol for something or other, but got 'misconstrued' (well, it is a swastika, but not in their use) so they changed it to a buffalo I think.
When I was a kid I collected old military patches and crests, and always wanted that one, but is was so rare.
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Sobel would have gotten fragged if he had actually gone into combat.
Devildoc
Verified Military
I think they talked about it during the second episode training in England.
This is from the Wikipedia media description.
This is the patch they switched it over to, when they dropped the swastika.
File:45th Infantry insignia (thunderbird).svg - Wikimedia Commons
The USARPAC patch is based on WWII happenings as well.
I used to think the patch was super lame until our CG explained the symbolism.
It's a bit more involved than I was expecting. It is a neat one though, once you read the description.
in addition to the info in the description, the red arrow is a giant red axis of advance pointed straight at... Japan.
I'll take it. ;)
That was my very first thought...I thought it odd that it wasn't mentioned in the description. Did that wording get removed after the war ended, or was it always implied, but never explicitly spelled out?
I'm not sure, the first time I heard it explained was by our four-star at the end of a major joint/combined exercise. He's the one who told me (us) about the stars and the numbers and where the arrow pointed.
I DEEPLY disliked my time at USARPAC for many reasons that had nothing to do with our CG. I also didn't like our patch, which to me looked like my 12 year old designed it in the 1995 version of Microsoft Paint. Because it does.
And having come from 101st, 5th Group, 160th, JSOC, etc., our patches looked way cooler and inspired far more pride. I cared so little about USARPAC that I didn't even bother to look up the history of our patch, I just talked shit about it. Whenever I would go places off the island wearing that patch, people didn't know what it was. At best they assumed it was a National Guard or Reserves unit.
But after the CG explained it, and the way he explained it... well I still deeply disliked the unit but I had a little more pride in the patch. Hidden things always appealed to me, and there's a lot hidden in that patch that you don't know just by looking at it.
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Devildoc
Verified Military
Like I said a few posts above, when I was a kid I collected patches and crests, mainly WW2-VN era. My mom's cousin retired from the army in the early 60s having been in WW2 and Korea, and I credit him. One of the things he did though was get me into reading about what they meant, because they all meant something, usually something of historical significance. That made it so much cooler.
Kraut783
SOF Support
So, they had the symbol of the Whirling logs....but everyone freaked....lol
The motif called the “Whirling Log” in Navajo culture is one appearance of one of the oldest symbols to be depicted by human beings. The symbol has been recorded in rock and cave paintings from at least 6,000 years ago and, in Navajo culture, the Whirling Log represents wellbeing, good luck, and protection.
Topkick
Verified Military
I watched an episode of Antique Road Show a few days ago. A lady brought in a blanket with this on it and I thought...WTF is that swastika doing on a native american made blanket? Lol. Now I know.
When I was in Alaska, we always referred to the patch as the Fun Meter...almost always pegged.
that was certainly my experience... moral and enthusiasm at zero and going down fast
Blizzard
Member
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If you didn't like MREs, remember, someone else always has it worse:
At 70,000 feet, there is no breathable oxygen, but that doesn’t mean pilots flying at that altitude can’t snack.
— Habubrats SR-71 (@Habubrats71) March 22, 2024
Tube foods allow U-2 pilots to nosh on everything from pizza and pasta to grandma’s apple pie while cruising at crazy high altitudes. The only caveat is that every… pic.twitter.com/38abl2r4Ci
Devildoc
Verified Military
Years ago I heard a presentation from a SR-71 pilot, he talked about nutrition. And elimination. He said they had a protein -rich low-carb meal before the launcher which was supposed to reduce hunger and need to poop. Them are some dedicated pilots!
B-52 crews (presumably tankers as well) on Chrome Dome missions did the same. Steak and eggs before a launch sounds like a cool meal, but it is really designed to be low bulk as you well know.
Anyway, back to the post, if we're talking about eating from a tube allow me to be the first to mention tube steak...
Steve1989MREInfo on Youtube has a few videos with them. Apparently they're not as bad as they sound.
Blizzard
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#OTD in 1972, Captain John W. Ripley, USMC, single-handedly halted an NVA offensive by destroying Dong Ha Bridge. Facing heavy enemy fire, he spent 3 hours swinging under the bridge to place 500 lbs of TNT. He received this "bill" from Hanoi for the cost to replace the bridge. pic.twitter.com/GMKaxpXrty
— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) April 2, 2024
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