Posted 12 years ago
tlmbaran
(136 items)
Got this at a Military show about 20 years ago. The guy selling it got the grouping from an estate sale. The chin strap on the helmet is broken, but complete. Helmet also has a big dent on the side, looks like a large piece of rubble hit it or shrapnel.I had never seen a green band on the lower left sleeve before. He has two over seas stripes sewn over the green silk band. According to the guy who sold me this uniform, the family said that this guy was a sniper durring WWI, and the green band singles him out as a sniper. I have not found any information backing this story up, nor have I ever seen another uniform with this kind of marking. Any help would be appreciated.
NEW INFO about this uniform!!
Arm Bands
I. The following distinguishing marks for specialists, and individuals detailed for special duties which, on occasion, separate them from their organizations, are hereby prescribed:
Green – Guides and Scouts
Red – Orderlies and Messenger (Runners)
Blue – Agents and Signalmen
Yellow – Carrying Parties (Munitions, Material, rations)
White – Trench Cleaners
Salvage Parties – Khaki Arm Band with “Salvage” in red letters
The bands will be one and one-half inches wide and, with the exception of orderlies to different headquarters, will be worn around the left fore-arm. Headquarters orderlies will wear the red band around the left upper arm.
Men equipped with wire cutters will wear a piece of white tape tied to the right shoulder strap.
Todd Rambow Todd Baran, Guide is a better term for it, in my opinion. From an article on usmilitariaforum.com "The green armband, issued to scouts and guides was worn by soldiers sent to the front in advance of the company, regiment or brigade to find the exact position which they were to occupy. They would then return and guide the men to that location under the cover of darkness; presumably without getting lost while guiding the troops to their position at the front."
So interesting. My grandfather was in 131st Illinois Infantry (Chicago) and 33rd US Infantry (all Illinois). Camp Grant (Rockford, IL) and Camp Logan (Houston, TX). I've got his uniform, helmet (with cross), photos, and even an inflatable pillow his mother (my great-grandmother Fanny) gave him and on which he printed the names of towns and hamlets he marched through. Oh
yes, he also mentioned "Hop-overs" such as Hamel, Verdun. Meuse et al. Sense of humor to call those places hop-overs.
At any rate, his uniform has a green band on lower left sleeve. His photos from 1917 include shots of sniper camp at Logan. Therefore, I deduce he was a sniper, scout, guide, etc. whatever. But he wore glasses Boy, I remember him being a great shot and great fisherman, perfect casting.
Thanks for any input.
Uniform also has upside-down red single chevron bordered in black in left biceps area. What's that? Gramp, I really need you now! I loved fishing in Canada, Wisconsin and Illinois with you, but I need answers. (He died too young at age 95 in 1991).