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 second of a multi-volume set), with a gallery of more than 700 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 former foe. With special emphasis on theater made patches, these volumes are sure to be a collector's paradise. Without a doubt, these books are the finest and most complete efforts to date on the subject.
