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Army Branch of Service Insignia: Officers

Second World War

Officer's Insignia Medical Corps Nurse	Enlisted Man's Insignia Infantry

The symbolism of the Army's branch of service insignia reach far back into the Army's history and the designs themselves were reused in many different insignia worn on different parts of the uniform. The number and names of different branches also changed over time. At the time of the Second World War officers wore the letters U.S. on the uniform coat's collar and branch insignia on the lapels. The above photo is of an Army nurse. Enlisted men wore a disk with the letters U.S. on the upper right collar and a disc with their branch insignia on the left collar. In the above photo the enlisted man is also wearing the distinctive insignia of the 6850th (Nürberg/Nuremberg Trials) Internal Security Detachment on his garrison cap and lapels in this post-war image. An infantry disk is on his left collar. (1)

Metallic branch insignia were attached with pins or clutches located on the back of the insignia. Cloth machine embroidered versions exist. Some of the insignia below are pictured with their clutches still attached.

Branches

Officer's Infantry Insignia	Enlisted Man's Infantry Insignia

Adjutant General's Dept.	Air Corps	Armored	Cavalry

Chaplain Christian	Chaplain Jewish	Chemical	Coast Artillery	Corps of Engineers	Field Artillery

Finance Dept.	1st Special Service Force	General Staff Corps	Inspector General's Dept.	Judge Advocate General's Dept.

The First Special Service Force was a U.S.-Canadian commando force, which served in Italy.

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Medical Corps Elements

Medical Corps	Army Nurse Corps	Medical Administrative Corps	Dental Corps	Hospital Dietitian

Professional Groups indicated by Letters superimposed on Caduceus

A	C	D	HD	N	P	PT	S	V
Administrators	Contract Surgeons	Dentists	Hospital Dietitians	Nurses	Pharmacists	Physical Therapists	Sanitarians	Veterinarians

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Military Intelligence	Military Police	National Guard	Ordnance	Quartermaster	Signal Corps

Transportation Corps	Tank Destroyer	U.S. Military Academy	Women's Army Corps

Other Lapel Insignia

Warrant Officer's Insignia

Certain other categories of soldiers wore lapel insignia. Although warrant officers were grades they were treated as if they were a branch.

Aide to General	Army Band	Warrant Officer	Unassigned to Branch	Detached Enlisted Men

NOTES:

1. Thanks to Lars Kleine for identification of the DI.