Thread by @18airbornecorps

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How about another story on the Corps insignia?

#XVIIIABCHeraldryWeek
#history

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In the summer of 1944, the XVIII Corps (no longer Armored, but not yet Airborne) was a corps HQ in California (it wasn't needed for the war). By now, the corps, really just a bunch of lazy staff officers hanging around the beach, had this Should Sleeve Insignia.

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The dragon's head symbolized cunning, endurance, and ferocity and the ability for a rapid strike against our enemies. Although, let's face it, if the staff officers wearing this patch were as cunning as the dragon implies, they'd in Europe and not Monterey, California.

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July, 1944: Ike decided the XVIII Corps would become an Airborne Corps and use the same (already APPROVED) insignia, w/ one exception: the dragon's head from 1943 would be turned so the tongue is pointed to the left base corner.

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Aug 1944:, the Army stood up the XVIII Airborne Corps HQ in England. Airborne-qualified staff who were already in Europe were selected to serve in this new HQ. The "cunning" staff officers from the original XVIII Corps never left the US & were transferred to other units.

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The new XVIII Airborne Corps members were issued the approved blue patch, now with a blue and white “Airborne” tab.

But…the Airborne tab was never actually authorized for wear.

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It looks like the Corps Adjutant never submitted the full Shoulder Sleeve Insignia to the Army Heraldry department for approval. A case of bad staff work within the XVIII Airborne Corps. 👀

FINAL:

After the war, the Corps was inactivated. It was reactivated at @FtBraggNC in 1951 & the Corps Shoulder Sleeve Insignia design WITH the airborne tab was formally submitted to the @USArmy Heraldry Department and approved (here is the submitted / approved design)