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Military History/WWII AEF 107th SMALL PIN OR BADGE

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Expert: John Vargas - 8/22/2009


Question

107th AEF Infantry
Hello I have a badge or pin that I have not been able to find another one so that I can identify it. I will attach a photo or photos if your site allows me. It has a threaded post on back with a nut. The only marks I can find are on the nut which says The Victory patented, I think. It takes a magnified and it is too dark right now for me to read it and so I am just going by memory. The badge is small it only measures about 5/8ths of an inch in size. Hopefully you can tell what it is without taking up a lot of your time. I hope your vacation was a nice one.
Mary

Answer
Hello Mary,

I enjoyed my vacation very much, thank you for asking.

What you have is a Lapel Pin for someone who served with the 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F) during World War one.  

The Crossed Rifles (Muskets) is the Insignia for the Branch of Arms for the Infantry in the U.S. Army.  The Olive Branch surrounding the pin is symbolic of Peace, the shield is emblematic for the Flag of the United States of America, and the Eagle, is the National Emblem for the United States of America.  

The Victory Company was a screw back manufacturing company; they did not make the pin, only the fastening device.

Here is the history of the 107th Infantry Regiment.

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/107thInf/107thInfMain....

Here is the history of the 27th Infantry Division.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

Here is the history of the American Expeditionary Forces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Expeditionary_Force

Here is what the Crossed Rifles (Muskets) Branch Insignia means.

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Branches/Infantry.htm

If the links do not allow you to click on them directly, cut and paste them into a new browser.  

I hope that I have been answer you question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me and I would me more than happy to answer them.

Regards,

John

John Vargas

Expertise

I can answer both specific and general questions about U.S. Army, and Naval Aviation from 1913 to 1946, and WWII U.S. Airborne, to include key personalities, units, commands, and doctrines. My specialty is U.S. Aviation Badges (all Branches of the Service, from WWI to the Present), U.S. Airborne Badges (from WWII to the Present) as well as Aviation, Airborne, and Infantry Insignia (from WWI to the Present), both authorized and unauthorized, of the period. I have access to a vast personal library (as well as text from others...such as museums) of text, as well as actual badges and insignia that is specific to this period of history.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in collecting and cataloging WWI, and WWI U.S. Army Aviation, WWI, and WWII U.S. Naval Aviation, and U.S. Airborne Badges and Insignia. I was the former assistant curator at the Gen. Wm. C. Lee Airborne Museum, when I lived in NC. I have written histories of Wing Badges and Aviation Insignia for several manufacturing companies to include The Robbins Company, Bailey Banks and Biddle, and I am working on the histories for several other companies at the moment. I am a consultant on regular basis to many museums (including the U.S.A.F., U.S. Army, Private and Public Museums, as well as the Institute of Heraldry), and I am regularly called upon to authenticate U.S. Aviation Badges and Insignia (all Branches of the Service) for Fine Auctions Houses such as Bonham’s and Butterfields, and many others.

Organizations
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA-FL) Historian - I am not a Vietnam Veteran, or a Vietnam Era Helicopter Pilot, I was not old enough to serve in Vietnam, unless the U.S. needed a one-year-old, then I would have Proudly Served.

Education/Credentials
I am perusing an advanced degree in history (Ph.D.), with a concentration in WWI, and WWII U.S. Aviation. I spent several years on Active Duty in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper. I am a Qualified and Rated Aviator.

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