U.S. Army Insignia and Patches
Officer's Rank - rank is worn on your right collar or on the epaulets of your jackets (see the photos below), as well as on your garrison cap. Remember that most Nurses were 2nd or 1st Lieutenants, and few WACs made it beyond the rank of 1st Lieutenant or Captain. As a reenactor, your rank should suit your age and impression.
 Clicking on the Capt's bars will let you order whatever type rank you need |
 the positioning of rank or DI on a garrison cap |
Collar insignia or BOS (Branch of Service)
WACS can either wear the Pallas Athena or the AAF wing and Prop. Army Nurses always wore the Caduceus. WASP wore the Wing and Prop. Other pseudo military units under the Army (Civil Air Patrol, Red Cross, USO) may have had their own regulations, so check accordingly. The branch of service should be worn on the lapels of the jacket as shown, or on the left side of the collar of one's shirt if not wearing a jacket.
Unit Patches - During WWII, patches were made of cotton twill, wool felt, leather, or bullion, and can be embroidered, printed or painted. An original patch with white thread will not glow under a black light (all natural fibers), and is often identified by a "cut edge". Modern embroidered patches are made using a machine that requires a full edging process, and often have a little embroidered chain "tail" that hangs off the side. Reproduction felt, leather, and bullion patches also exist, and are sometimes much harder to tell from the original, and are sometimes being made with vintage materials. (Bullion is a gold or silver metallic coil that is cut into tiny pieces and hand or machine stitched into a design). Original patches can run from $3-$5 for a common embroidered unit patch to $100's or $1,000's for a rare theater made bullion or leather made patch. Note: Class A's, ETO uniforms (Ike and trousers) and A-2 flight jackets are the only times when it's really appropriate to deviate from the standard embroidered patch. Otherwise, with patches, less is more. Many units did not wear patches at all on their HBT's.
The active unit goes on the left shoulder of your uniform, your former or combat unit is on the right, although if you are putting together a uniform for an impression, the former unit was not always practiced, and most often was a sign of someone who had served overseas or in combat, so it is advised that you not wear a second unit on your other sleeve. A good rule of thumb on picking a unit is that you should be sure that women served there before sewing it on a jacket. HQ or headquarters patches are always a safe bet (AAF HQ, for example).
Overseas bars - one for each 6 months of service, sewn on the cuff of class A uniforms
As with all uniforms and equipment, always consult with your unit if they have specific regulations or requirements when purchasing reproduction gear or clothing.