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Military Collector & Historian
The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, 1918–1919 Kenneth L. Smith-Christmas and Owen Linlithgow Conner
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n 1982, an article entitled, “Genesis of a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia” by K. L. Smith-Christmas, the then-registrar of the Marine Corps Museum, appeared in the U.S. Army Center for Military History’s quarterly museum publication, The U.S. Army Museums Newsletter. Its publication was preceded by a much-condensed version in the spring 1980 issue of the Marine Corps’ historical quarterly, Fortitudine. Both of these articles had been written without the benefit of being able to examine and analyze original artifacts as, at that time, the registrar’s access to the collection was confined solely to incoming acquisitions and outgoing loans. Moreover, the collections were in need of some serious curatorial attention. Fortunately, however, the insignia on some uniforms in the collection were hurriedly photographed and recorded in what catalog record files were then extant. The article reads as follows: Genesis of a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia In World War I the 2d Division first used the Indianhead to identify its transport on the crowded French roads. Many officers and men had a hand in its design By K. L. Smith-Christmas During the early planning stages for a special art exhibit entitled, “Through the Wheat,” the Marine Corps Museum staff decided some portion of the exhibit should deal with the star and Indian head insignia worn as a shoulder patch by both the 4th Brigade of Marines and its parent 2d Division (Regular Army), American Expeditionary Force (AEF) during World War I. With the rapidly growing interest in World War I uniforms and insignia, this would not only add to the exhibit, but would also clear up some misconceptions regarding the insignia. The insignia itself is unique in the World War, and the story of its evolution is fascinating, in that so many individuals were involved in its design and application. It was one of the few divisional insignia of the AEF to be used for a tactical purpose. Luckily, the staff found it had a mass of documentary material upon which to base captions for the exhibit’s artifacts. Richard A. Long, curator of special projects, had “rediscovered” an entire file of documents in the Reference Section of the Marine Corps Historical Center dealing with the evolution of the insignia. Tim Nenninger, an archivist with the Navy and Old Army Branch of the National Archives, who researched the AEF records, discovered many documents that were missing from the files Mr. Long had located. As research continued, all the museum’s “Indian head” uniforms in storage and in the research collection were documented. With the possible exception of several units during the
Mexican War, the AEF’s 2d Division was the only hybrid Army/Marine division ever fielded by the United States. It was composed of two infantry brigades, the 3d (Army) and 4th (Marine), the 2d Field Artillery Brigade, and divisional troops. Its first commanding general was Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doyen, USMC, the commander of the 4th Brigade and the senior officer on board when the division was organized on 26 October 1917. He was relieved by Army Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy on 18 November 1917. In mid-July 1918, Brig. Gen. James G. Harbord (Army), became the division commander, but less than two weeks later turned over the command to Marine Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, and assumed control of all AEF logistical activities. General Lejeune remained as commander of the division until it was returned to the United States and broken up on 3 August 1919. The evolution of the division’s insignia began in March 1918, when its transport became intermixed with French Army wagons and camions en route to the front lines for the first time near Verdun. On the road through Neufchateau, Gondrecourt, Ligny, and Bar-le-Due, it became apparent some type of distinguishing insignia was needed on the vehicles to prevent the mass confusion which plagued the march. On 28 March, Lt. Col. William F. Herringshaw, commander of the 2d Supply Train, issued a memorandum outlining the problem and offering prizes to members of his five companies who submitted the best unit insignia. After assessing each officer five francs, he set the three prizes at 40, 25, and 10 francs each.1 Many designs were submitted but the contest committee could not reach a decision. Breaking the stalemate, Colonel Herringshaw superimposed the Indian head design submitted by Sgt. Louis J. Lundy, of Company A, on the white star design submitted by Sgt. John Kenny of Company B. (The committee awarded first prize to Lundy and second prize to Kenney.) Colonel Herringshaw then forwarded a proposal to division headquarters, 12 April, recommending the insignia be stenciled on all 2d Division vehicles and suggesting a blue bonnet and red face on the Indian’s head. Two days later, General Bundy approved the recommendation and requested the design be stenciled on his staff car. This was done while the automobile was undergoing minor repairs at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, near Chateau-Thierry.2 Throughout the summer of 1918, little thought was given to the use of an insignia for anything else but vehicles. With the battles of Belleau Wood and Soissons, the 2d Division had enough to worry about. However, in the lull before the St. Mihiel offensive, during a conference of 9th Infantry Regiment officers, on 4 September, a system of
