83rd Infantry Division cloth Insignia

The patch consists of a black isosceles triangle with its vortex pointed downward. In the center of the patch, within a gold circle, the letters "O", H", "I", and "O" are formed in a monogram-type pattern.

The shoulder patches worn during the WW2 period were manufactured on a small scale by the Army itself, but the bulk were ordered from various civilian embroidery firms. Most unit patches were machine embroidered in color threads on a tan cotton backing ("flat edge" or "cut edge" patches). Many are also made overseas. I have a fine collection of 83rd cloth insignia to show you.

Drawing Courtesy of Craig Pickrall

As is the case with any Shoulder Sleeve insignia the 83rd Infantry Division insignia was approved by the Institute of Heraldry and the patch was given fixed measurements. Throughout the last few years I have handled many Thunderbolt patches and have noticed, while it is a simple design, some differences can be noted. Differentiation is made based on color or manufacturing style. To my knowledge no reproductions or modern, commercial patches are included here. Furthermore, since there are three general periods of existence for the 83rd, WW1 and Interwar Period, WW2 Period and the Postwar Period, this overview will be divided in these three periods. The different Types are ordered chronologically starting with the oldest patches, being those manufactured during World War 1. These are all grouped under Type 1 since there was no official design until the end of 1918 and, as is explained later, many insignia were made overseas. This makes for an abundance of different sized patches manufactured on different materials. Type 2 will most likely be the most common type. This type, the standard US made fully machine embroidered cut edge patch, was made in great numbers starting in WW2 and carrying on until the introduction of the Merrowed edge in 1969. Two subtypes exist at this point being the OD Border patch and the Gemsco manufactured patch bearing the White Ohio Monogram. Other, less obvious differences do exist but are, at this point, too insignificant to earn their own subtype. Type 3 is the last WW2 type and holds all overseas made patches of World War 2 and the immediate postwar period. The next type, Type 4, starts in 1969 when patch manufacturing made one of its most noticeable changes in adopting the merrowed edge. As opposed to the earlier cut edge patches, where the edge was part of the manufacturing, an edge was now added to the patch. Two subtypes exist, a colored and subdued version. Type 5 is the latest version of the 83rd patch and also the one that is still in use today, the Velcro patch adapted for the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). This patch is currently worn by the 83rd ARRTC stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Finally, Type 6, much like Types 1 and 3, is a type that holds several completely different insignia due to their scarcity. This type are the collector and unofficial made patches of the interwar period.

Period 1 - World War One and Interwar

The first division shoulder patches came into being in the summer of 1918 when members of the 81st (Wild Cat) Division began to wear their adopted Division symbol on their uniforms. Members of the 81st wore their distinctive patches (in the form of cloth patches sewed to the left shoulder of their uniforms) as they passed through the port of embarkation at Hoboken NJ on their way to France. The port commander sent a query to the War Department questioning its authorization. By the time the War Department responded that it was NOT authorized the entire Division had already embarked. Upon arrival in France the unauthorized unit designation had been reported to the AEF General Headquarters. GHQ directed the Division commander to have it removed.. Against direct orders, the Division commander (feeling it contributed to the esprit de corps of his men) authorized its continued use. Afterwards, GHQ recanted its orders and officially ordered that all COMBAT units who desired to wear such an emblem could do so. This breakthrough soon led to an amendment where all organizations within the AEF could do so due largely to the positive effect of the shoulder sleeve insignia upon moral. It was quick to catch on and soon afterwards a multitude of cloth insignia began to appear on coat and overcoat sleeves. The AEF GHQ was still supposed to approve the chosen emblem but as evidenced by the wide range of period non official patches found on surviving uniforms this authorization met with limited success. However, most authorizations for shoulder patch design did not come into play until after the Armistice.

Period 2 - World War Two and Early Post War (1946's)

These patches are all fully embroidered US made examples. The different characteristics are not poignant enough to merit their own (sub)type and can easily be contributed to different manufacturers. All these patches are fully embroidered on a cotton twill backing showing embroidery styles common to the World War 2 era. The main distinction will be made between patches showing a white and a green/OD back thread. I have not yet seen another color back thread for the 83rd Infantry Division patch.

Heavily worn out US Made example

off uniform, has remains of wartime PX price tag from Camp Atterbury on the back

from 83rd veteran Mike Zella

from 83rd veteran George F. Studor

from 83rd veteran George F. Studor

Unfinished top border and frayed
threads top right

Missing threads right of the H

Missing threads top right

Missing threads top right

Horizontal bar of H runs over the full width of the big O

This German made patch and matching tab came out of a shop that was right across the US Army Caserne in Fürth called Darby Barracks. It closed down in ’93-’94. The shop had been selling patches since the end of WW2 and was located at Waldstraße 53, Fürth. Most of the patches came in groups of 12 and had German newspaper around them from 1944 - 1948.

Standard Type 2 Greenback patch paired with a beautiful German Made "Buckshot" tab.
Note the little Thunderbolt in between BUCK and SHOT.

Period 3 - Post World War Two

Patch manufacturing did not change drastically in 1945 so patches made prior and after that date show comparable charcteristics. Until 1968, when merrowed edge was introduced patches kept being manufactured as cut-edge patches. The only changes made in the manufacturing process are the materials. No WW2 manufactured patches show a quality difference in the back and main thread, post WW2 patches on the other hand sometimes have a nylon kind of view, despite being rayon, this can be seen in the following examples.

A worn patch donated to my collection by an officer with the 83rd US Army Reserve Readiness Training Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The 83rd ARRTC  inherited the lineage and shoulder insignia from the former 83rd Infantry Division in 2013.