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Post by markswastate on Jan 5, 2008 23:03:20 GMT -5
Went to a gun show just outside Seattle today and found this patch Also saw another that the seller said was from the 1st Inf Div PA It was a volcano with three stars over it, was that correct??
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Post by VeeVee on Jan 5, 2008 23:30:12 GMT -5
I believe that patch with the volcano was from the 1st Filipino Regiment. They were formed from stateside Filipinos after the war broke out.
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Jan 7, 2008 17:59:27 GMT -5
I've got Shelby Stanton's "World War II Order of Battle" right in front of me. The crest (which I realize was sometimes different than the patch) for the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment (Separate) was indeed three stars, but it had a crossed Kris with another device I don't recognize on the shield. The words "Laging Una" underneath.
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Post by legionnaire on Jan 7, 2008 18:36:04 GMT -5
Hi Rick, The other crossed symbol is the Ifugao head hunter's war shield under the Moro Kris sword with the Philippine Flag colors in the background shown in this DI unit pin. "Laging Una" (Always First) on the left, "Bahala Na" (come what may) middle and Sulung ( Advance onward) right side Philip
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Post by markswastate on Jan 7, 2008 23:33:23 GMT -5
Yep, the volcano patch is the one I saw at the show. Guy wants 50 dollars for it.
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Post by legionnaire on Jan 7, 2008 23:56:27 GMT -5
From time to time it shows up on ebay a lot less than $50. or you can get repros even a lot cheaper from Saunders militaria patches.
Philip
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Jan 8, 2008 12:46:41 GMT -5
What is the object crossed with the Kris?
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Post by legionnaire on Jan 8, 2008 14:31:53 GMT -5
Hi Rick, it's the Northern Luzon Mountain Ifugao or Bontoc headhunters' war shield same tribe used in "Apocalypse Now" were they decapitated a carabao in the final climax of the film. BTW the US Military recruited them for Constabulary and Scout troops. Fought fiercely and feared by the Japs in Bataan Philip
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Jan 9, 2008 13:23:59 GMT -5
I remember Bob Hope commenting about them in one of his USO skits in the 1960s. He said they lopped off the head of every 2nd Japanese. He said they would have made a fortune in Hollywood as agents!! Thanks for the information.
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Post by texian13cav on Jan 11, 2008 17:38:57 GMT -5
Appears to be a Phillipine Division (US) patch
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Post by traveller on Oct 8, 2008 22:14:46 GMT -5
Sorry to drop by unannounced and dredge up an old thread, but it came up as I was researching a patch I picked up in Alamogordo. I've finally identified it, it's the 1st and 2nd Filipino Regiment patch you were discussing here. Does anyone know if, or when the patch would have been issued with an OD green embroidered oval instead of the yellow oval depicted in the illustrations which I've so far encountered?
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Post by VeeVee on Oct 9, 2008 6:03:52 GMT -5
I asked historian Bob Capistrano to comment on your question as he's the expert on the 1st/2nd FIR patches. Welcome to the forum. -victor
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Post by t on Oct 9, 2008 8:10:45 GMT -5
Thank you! I look forward to finding out more about it, so far it's been the gateway to a lot of interesting history....
Josh
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Post by pacbob on Oct 9, 2008 12:01:26 GMT -5
The volcano patch was approved in 1942 for "Filipino Battalions." A little later that year, the 1st Filipino Battalion was so overstrength that it was reoganized as the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, and still later, a 2nd regiment was formed. The 2nd regiment was later reduced to a battalion when overage men were released from the service in 1943 and contingetns from both regiments released to form the 5217th Reconnaissance Bn in Australia. Both the 1st and 2nd regiments/battalions wore the volcano patch. The olive drab border variant is just a manufacturer's variation. This variant sells for around $25 on ebay, while the yellow bordered version goes for between $5 to $10. Versions embroidered on yellow felt go for between $15 and $20, with another felt variant with the volcano reversed going for around $20-$25. The scarcest variant is embroidered on yellow twill, and might fetch $40 on a good day.
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Post by traveller on Oct 9, 2008 14:46:10 GMT -5
"Both the 1st and 2nd regiments/battalions wore the volcano patch. The olive drab border variant is just a manufacturer's variation." Which means that it's most probably authentic. Thanks, now to find it a home and move on to my next little research project.
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Post by indiosbravos on Oct 9, 2008 17:38:03 GMT -5
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