billgaston
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THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG POST
Earlier in the month we had a discussion in another forum which led to a discussion on Overseas Stripes in WWII. Also info was posted on the Lounge about them.
Per the Officers Guide (3 seperate additions 42, 43, & 45) "Overseas Bars are not authorized for wear during the current war."
Navy29 stated that he had a copy of the Army Regulations that referred to three (3) Circulars from 44 and 45 that stated they were authorized.
I contacted the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks to see if we could find out when they were authorized. They had no idea, but thanks to the info on the Circulars from Navy29 they were able to research it and I just got the response back from them today.
They sent me photocopies of the Circulars and this is what the Circulars State:
Circular No. 268
30 June 1944
Insignia to denote oversea service - 1. Authorization.- A bar for Oversea service during the present war is authorized for wear by members of the Army of the United States as provided below.
2. Description.-(See Fig. 1.) The device consists of a horizontal bar 1/4 inch in width and 1 3/8 inches in length on a cloth background forming a border, 1/8 inch around the bar. For wear on the service coat and the jacket, field, wool (in those theaters where authorized), the bar will be of gold lace or bullion on an olive-drab background. For wear on the shirt the bar will be of golden yellow cloth on a khaki background.
3. Eligibility. - a. One oversea service bar is authorized for wear for each period of 6 months service as a member of the Army of the United States outside the continental limits of the United States from 7 December 1941 until a date 6 months subsequent to the termination of the present war. In computing oversea service, the Territory of Alaska will be considered outside the continental limits of the United States.
b. Time is computed between the dates of departure from and arrival at a port in the United States or the boundary of the continental United States. Day of departure and day of return included. The expression "each period of 6 months service" is interpreted to authorize wearing of an oversea service bar for oversea service of various lengths performed either continuously or at intervals, when the total of the service equals or exceeds 6 months. Thus, an individual who serves 4 months 10 days outside the continental United States and returns thereto and subsequently departs from the United States to the same or another theater or country and serves an additional 1 month and 20 days is entitled to one bar. All active duty or service outside the continental United States (permanent, temporary, detached, etc.) will be included in computing length of service required. In any case the official duty of the individual must have required his presence outside the continental United States. Oversea service as a member of teh Women's Army Auxiliary Corps will be included.
c. Military personnel serving on transport vessels and on aircraft become eligile to wear the bar, under a and b above, when their total service outside the continental United States equals or exceeds 6 months.
d. Service on the Great Lakes and in any harbor, bay, or other enclosed arm of the sea along the coast, and that part of the sea which is within 3 miles of the coastline of the United States will not be included in computing length of service required.
e. Periods during which military personell are absent without leave or in desertion will not be included in computing length of service required.
4. How worn.-a. The oversea service bar will be worn centered on the outside half and parallel to the end of the left sleeve of the garments mentioned in paragraph 2, with the lower edge of the bar 4 inches above the end of the sleeve. Additional bars will be worn parallel to and above the first bar with 5/16 inch space between bars, the space being formed of the background.
b. Only bars of gold lace or bullion will be worn on the service coat and the jacket, field, wool. Only bars of golden yellow cloth will be worn on the shirt.
c. When the oversea service bar is worn on the service coat with service stripes (enlisted men with 3 years honorable service) or with chevrons indicating oversea service in the first World War, the oversea service bar will be worn immediately above the uppermost stripe or chevron (See figs. 2 and 3).
5. Supply.-Pending issue by the Quartermaster General, commanders are authorized to procure the oversea service bar through any facilities available, charging cost thereof to appropriate procurements. Individuals may purchase the bars to which they are entitled from authorized dealers.
6. Record.-Authority to wear oversea service bars will be noted under "Remarks, Administrative" in Service Records (W.D.A.G.O. Form No. 24) of enlisted personell, and on Officers and Warrant Officers Qualification Cards (W.D.A.G.O. Form 68-1 or 66-2, as the case may be) for officers and warrant officers.
It is signed J.A. Ulio, Major General, The Adjutant General.
Circular No. 41 2 Februaray 1945 recindes Paragraph 4b, Circular 268, War Department, 1944.
It also recindes Paragraph 2 and substitues the following:
2. Description.-(See Fig. 1.) The device consists of a horizontal bar 1/4 inch in width and 1 3/8 inches in length on a background forming a border 1/8 inch around the bar. The bar will be of gold color rayon, or gold color cloth, or gold lace, or gold bullion. THe background will be of olive-drab felt or of the same material and color as the garment on which worn. The device will be worn on the service coat, winter and summer shirt, field jacket, work clothing, and special suits or jackets.
Circular No. 116 dated 13 April 1945 amended Circular 268 of 1944. It states:
Circular 268, War Department, 1944 is amended by adding paragraph 3f as follows:
3f. Periods during which military personnel are in the United States on temporary duty or leave will not be included in computing length of service required.
Sorry for how long this is everyone but I wanted to get the information out on this issue. A BIG THANKS to Navy29 for coming up with Circular No.'s so we could research this item to its beginning.
Basically if you are doing an impression of post 30 June 1944 Oversea Service Bars on a uniform could be appropriate. Prior to 30 June 1944 would be incorrect and not within Army Regulations.
WHEW!!!! That was a long one!
Earlier in the month we had a discussion in another forum which led to a discussion on Overseas Stripes in WWII. Also info was posted on the Lounge about them.
Per the Officers Guide (3 seperate additions 42, 43, & 45) "Overseas Bars are not authorized for wear during the current war."
Navy29 stated that he had a copy of the Army Regulations that referred to three (3) Circulars from 44 and 45 that stated they were authorized.
I contacted the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks to see if we could find out when they were authorized. They had no idea, but thanks to the info on the Circulars from Navy29 they were able to research it and I just got the response back from them today.
They sent me photocopies of the Circulars and this is what the Circulars State:
Circular No. 268
30 June 1944
Insignia to denote oversea service - 1. Authorization.- A bar for Oversea service during the present war is authorized for wear by members of the Army of the United States as provided below.
2. Description.-(See Fig. 1.) The device consists of a horizontal bar 1/4 inch in width and 1 3/8 inches in length on a cloth background forming a border, 1/8 inch around the bar. For wear on the service coat and the jacket, field, wool (in those theaters where authorized), the bar will be of gold lace or bullion on an olive-drab background. For wear on the shirt the bar will be of golden yellow cloth on a khaki background.
3. Eligibility. - a. One oversea service bar is authorized for wear for each period of 6 months service as a member of the Army of the United States outside the continental limits of the United States from 7 December 1941 until a date 6 months subsequent to the termination of the present war. In computing oversea service, the Territory of Alaska will be considered outside the continental limits of the United States.
b. Time is computed between the dates of departure from and arrival at a port in the United States or the boundary of the continental United States. Day of departure and day of return included. The expression "each period of 6 months service" is interpreted to authorize wearing of an oversea service bar for oversea service of various lengths performed either continuously or at intervals, when the total of the service equals or exceeds 6 months. Thus, an individual who serves 4 months 10 days outside the continental United States and returns thereto and subsequently departs from the United States to the same or another theater or country and serves an additional 1 month and 20 days is entitled to one bar. All active duty or service outside the continental United States (permanent, temporary, detached, etc.) will be included in computing length of service required. In any case the official duty of the individual must have required his presence outside the continental United States. Oversea service as a member of teh Women's Army Auxiliary Corps will be included.
c. Military personnel serving on transport vessels and on aircraft become eligile to wear the bar, under a and b above, when their total service outside the continental United States equals or exceeds 6 months.
d. Service on the Great Lakes and in any harbor, bay, or other enclosed arm of the sea along the coast, and that part of the sea which is within 3 miles of the coastline of the United States will not be included in computing length of service required.
e. Periods during which military personell are absent without leave or in desertion will not be included in computing length of service required.
4. How worn.-a. The oversea service bar will be worn centered on the outside half and parallel to the end of the left sleeve of the garments mentioned in paragraph 2, with the lower edge of the bar 4 inches above the end of the sleeve. Additional bars will be worn parallel to and above the first bar with 5/16 inch space between bars, the space being formed of the background.
b. Only bars of gold lace or bullion will be worn on the service coat and the jacket, field, wool. Only bars of golden yellow cloth will be worn on the shirt.
c. When the oversea service bar is worn on the service coat with service stripes (enlisted men with 3 years honorable service) or with chevrons indicating oversea service in the first World War, the oversea service bar will be worn immediately above the uppermost stripe or chevron (See figs. 2 and 3).
5. Supply.-Pending issue by the Quartermaster General, commanders are authorized to procure the oversea service bar through any facilities available, charging cost thereof to appropriate procurements. Individuals may purchase the bars to which they are entitled from authorized dealers.
6. Record.-Authority to wear oversea service bars will be noted under "Remarks, Administrative" in Service Records (W.D.A.G.O. Form No. 24) of enlisted personell, and on Officers and Warrant Officers Qualification Cards (W.D.A.G.O. Form 68-1 or 66-2, as the case may be) for officers and warrant officers.
It is signed J.A. Ulio, Major General, The Adjutant General.
Circular No. 41 2 Februaray 1945 recindes Paragraph 4b, Circular 268, War Department, 1944.
It also recindes Paragraph 2 and substitues the following:
2. Description.-(See Fig. 1.) The device consists of a horizontal bar 1/4 inch in width and 1 3/8 inches in length on a background forming a border 1/8 inch around the bar. The bar will be of gold color rayon, or gold color cloth, or gold lace, or gold bullion. THe background will be of olive-drab felt or of the same material and color as the garment on which worn. The device will be worn on the service coat, winter and summer shirt, field jacket, work clothing, and special suits or jackets.
Circular No. 116 dated 13 April 1945 amended Circular 268 of 1944. It states:
Circular 268, War Department, 1944 is amended by adding paragraph 3f as follows:
3f. Periods during which military personnel are in the United States on temporary duty or leave will not be included in computing length of service required.
Sorry for how long this is everyone but I wanted to get the information out on this issue. A BIG THANKS to Navy29 for coming up with Circular No.'s so we could research this item to its beginning.
Basically if you are doing an impression of post 30 June 1944 Oversea Service Bars on a uniform could be appropriate. Prior to 30 June 1944 would be incorrect and not within Army Regulations.
WHEW!!!! That was a long one!
