Uncle Gene had a great way of telling stories. He often provided first hand illustrations to help communicate the often broad scope of his adventures. Serving during the Koren War, he told many of his "army stories" giving first hand accounts of driving tanks and the like, which of course filled my attention span. He had a collection of patches which he would present with a story, describing its origin and activity, often leaving my questions yet to be answered. His military patch collection become one of my childhood favorites. The following patch [shoulder sleeve insignia] caught my attention having recently rediscovered this childhood collection :
No stories arose from the many memories pertaining to this collection, so I had to check a few of my "adult" references.
The 3rd Armored Cavalry it turned out to be. A regular Army unit on active duty with Headquarters at Fort Bliss, Texas. My reference read "The green color and trumpet commemorate the original green facing of the uniform and its gold trumpet insignia (1846)". The motto is recorded as coming from General Winfield Scott after seeing the Regimental colors raised over a captured stronghold... "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel."
I can't imagine how Uncle Gene could have missed such a story, but this childhood collection is still telling them.
My reference : Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of The U.S. Army 1946 - 1989, by Richard W. Smith, first published 1978. (p. 12)
