could you ID this?

[Dinerman]

This was in a plastic tub of my grandpa's war things (patches, id bracelet, pins, etc).
It is about half an inch accross.

could you tell me what it is?

 

[Nick Charles]

The original Ruptured Duck was a cloth insignia depicting an eagle inside a wreath. It was worn on uniforms above the right breast pocket by WWII servicemen and women.
It was issued to service personnel who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at that time. This showed the MP's that they were in transit and not AWOL. Well, the boys thought the eagle looked more like a duck; and, because it meant they were going home, the popular saying was, "They took off like a Ruptured Duck"...hence the nickname

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruptured_duck_(military_decoration)

 

[The Wingnut]

In this case, it's a lapel pin...from the look of it, it's the type with a permanent 'button' back, which goes through the lapel buttonhole. Meant for wear with civilian clothes, to signify veteran status.

 

[Hondo]

My fathers

My fathers lapel pin.

 

[dhermann1]

Ruptured duck

I've got both a cloth and pin version. They belonged to either my mother or my father. They were both sergeants in the Marines during the war. They worked on the Leatherneck Magazine in Washington DC. They are definitely prized possessions. More so with every passing year.