Explore Black History

1944-1946

David H. Walker enlisted in the Army in Philadelphia in 1944 during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 as a Technician 5th Class, having served in the Services of Supply and the XXIV Corps.

A U.S. Army Olive Drab Service Jacket (a) worn by Technician 5th Class David H. Walker with two (2) service ribbon bars (b, c), a Marksman Rifle badge (d), a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers insignia pin (e), and a U.S. insignia pin (f). The jacket is made from olive green wool and is single-breasted with a standard collar and full-length sleeves with no cuffs. It falls at the hip with a straight hem and there is a vent at the center back. The jacket closes at the center front with four (4) metal buttons with raised decoration featuring the U.S. Army eagle insignia. There are self-fabric shoulder straps that fasten near the neck with one (1) smaller metal eagle button each. At each proper front breast is a patch pocket with rounded bottom corners that closes with a rectangular flap. At each proper front waist is an inset pocket that closes with a rectangular flap. All four (4) pocket flaps fasten at the center with one (1) smaller metal eagle button each.
There are two (2) service ribbon bars attached above the proper left breast pocket. The top bar (b) contains two (2) ribbons: an Army Good Conduct Medal that is red in the center with three thin white stripes on each end; a World War II Victory Medal that is red in the center with thin rainbow stripes on each end. The bottom bar (c) contains three (3) ribbons: an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal that has a yellow ground with alternating white and red stripes and a group of red, white, and blue thin stripes at the center; a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two (2) stars that is brown at the ends with a mostly green center ground having alternating thin stripes grouped in colors of gren, white, red, and blue, white, red, and white, blue, white; an American Campaign Medal with a mostly light blue ground and groups of thin stripes in white, red, and black. The Asiatic-Pacific and European-African-Middle Eastern medals are oriented upside down and the three ribbons of the bottom rack are arranged in reverse order of precedence. A U.S. Army Marksman Rifle badge (d) consisting of a cross with a bar hanging below it that reads "RIFLE" is pinned onto the pocket flap of the proper left breast pocket.
Sewn above the proper right breast pocket is a World War II Honorable Discharge patch that is diamond shaped in olive green fabric with a gold eagle flying through a circle printed at the center.
There are three (3) patches sewn onto the proper left sleeve. Just below the shoulder seam is a XXIV Corps patch that is shield shaped with a white heart inside a white outline of a heart on a blue ground. Below it on the upper arm is a Technician 5th Class rank patch that is black with gold embroidery featuring two stripes at the top and a T below them in the rounded bottom section of the patch. Sewn at the forearm is a U.S. Army overseas service bars patch in olive with three (3) gold bars denoting eighteen (18) months of overseas service total.
There are two (2) patches sewn onto the proper right sleeve. Just below the shoulder seam is an Army Services of Supplies Patch consisting of a navy blue five-pointed star inside a white six-petaled flower on a red circular ground. Below it on the upper arm is a Technician 5th Class rank patch matching that on the proper left sleeve.
There is an insignia pin attached to each lapel. A Gold Castle U.S. Army Corps of Engineers insignia pin (e) is attached with two (2) butterfly clasps to the proper left lapel. A U.S. insignia pin (f) is attached with two (2) butterfly clasps to the proper right lapel.
The interior of the jacket is partially lined in olive cotton twill at the fronts, back neck, and sleeves. The size is stamped in black ink at the center back neck on the lining. A hanger loop made from the cotton twill is sewn at the interior center back neck. There are no labels in the interior body of the jacket and no interior pockets. Inside the proper right waist pocket is a white paper label with black printed text reading "Phila. Quartermaster / Depot / INSPECTED BY" with the rest blank.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Clothing - Military Uniforms

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Edna M. and Nell L. Walker in memory of David H. Walker

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2012.122a-f

jackets
military uniforms
insignias
decorations
badges

No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

a: wool, cotton, and metal buttons;
b: synthetic fiber and metal;
c: synthetic fiber and metal;
d: metal;
e: metal;
f: metal

H x W: 32 1/2 × 31 in. (82.6 × 78.7 cm)

Object Name • U.S. Army Olive Drab Service Jacket worn by Technician 5th Class David H. Walker

nmaahc_2012.122a-f

NMAAHC

U.S. ARMY OLIVE DRAB SERVICE JACKET WORN BY TECHNICIAN 5TH CLASS DAVID H. WALKER

National Museum of African American History and Culture

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1940s • 1939-1945

Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot • United States Army • Walker, David H.

WW II • Clothing and dress • Military • World War, 1939-1945

Insignias • Badges • Military uniforms • jackets • decorations

No Known Copyright Restrictions