United States Army
30th Artillery Patches, Crest, Brass and Insignias
As pictured below, top to bottom, left to right are my badges and awards:
Torri Patch, 30th Artillery Brigade Patch, Specialist E-5 Rank Insignia, Missile Marksman Badge, Rifle Expert Badge, Wheeled Driver Badge, 1st. Artillery Crest, Artillery Brass, U.S. Army Brass, National Defense Service Ribbon, Cold War Recognition Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon and Name Badge
I was originally assigned to Okinawa, I wore the United States Army Ryukyu Island patch, which showed a Japanese Torii bridge in Gold on a black circle. The Torii was a sacred entranceway to a Shinto Temple, and the patch alluded to the Ryukyu Islands as WWII's "gateway to Japan". It was deactivated in 1973 when it changed to Base command Okinawa and fell under the command of US Army Japan which wore a different patch. US Army Japan Patch (a blue, white and red patch with a image of Mt Fuji on it)
I changed to the 30th Artillery Brigade Patch when I was assigned to C-8-1. Everyone in the Brigade wore the 30th Artillery Brigade Patch. The patch was is use from April 26, 1961 until July 1, 1973 when the unit ceased operation. The three arrows alude to three missiles and the three main Ryukyu Islands of the unit's home station. The circle symbolizes a specific area or target and also represents a zero which, in conjunction with the three arrows, suggests the numerical designation of the organization, the 30th Artillery Brigade and reflected the Brigade's motto "Always on Target" - red and yellow are the artillery colors.
The Specialist E-5 Insignia, indicating the rank of Specialist E-5, or Spec 5 as it was commonly called, is no longer in use. Today’s grade of E-5 is now called Sergeant. Spec 5's were sometimes squad leaders or in charge of technical groups - most E-5's in a Hawk Battery were senior radar or missile technicians. It was the highest rank you could receive without re-enlisting. The PLL support group I ran, consisted of 2 parts clerks and a truck driver. I reported directly to the Maintenance Warrant Officer - there was no sergeant in our chain of command, so in the missile parts group, the E-5 was the "sergeant".
The Missile Marksman Badge indicated that you had completed Hawk Missile Training at the Air Defense School in Fort Bliss Texas
The Rifle Expert Badge was the highest award for marksmanship you could receive and was awarded following rifle qualification during Basic Training
The Driver-Wheeled Vehicle Badge was awarded after completing the Army's Heavy Truck Driver training, but was usually not worn
The 1st. Artillery Crest, with the motto, "Primus Inter Pares", "First Among Equals" was worn by all the 1st. Artillery Hawk units on Okinawa; and the Air Defense Artillery Brass and the U.S. Army Brass were worn by everyone in the U.S. Army Artillery.
The National Defense Ribbon was awarded for honorable active service.
The Cold War Recognition Ribbon is new, covering all who served during the cold war era.
The Good Conduct Ribbon is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself from among his fellow soldiers by his exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity.
The black and white name tag was worn on the both the green (winter) and khaki (summer) dress uniforms.
If you are missing any or all of your ribbons or awards, the Army will give you a set for free, you just have to request a set.(see below) However, after requesting mine, I was informed that I only had earned a "Expert Badge" for Rifle (true), a "Marksman Badge" for Machine Gun (not true) and a National Defense Ribbon (true). Seems the "Driver" for Wheeled Vehicle, "Marksman" for Missile and my "Good Conduct" Medal were never recorded with them... good luck!
