Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Description
A shield 2 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches high composed of five vertical stripes, the outer stripes red, 1/2 inch wide, the next stripes on each side white 3/8 inch wide, and the center stripe blue 5/8 inchwide; on the blue stripe a sword hilt to base with white blade and yellow hilt; all within a 1/8 inch blue border.

Symbolism
Red, white and blue are out national colors. The shape of the insignia and the sword were symbolic of the SHAEF insignia.

Background
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on October 23, 1944.