RARE WW2 4th Infantry Ivy Division SSI Embroidered Bullion Felt Theater Made

This patch is the shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) adopted by the 4th Infantry "Ivy" or "Iron Horse" division of the United States Army. The braided square is bullion although it does not show in the pictures. It is on dark green felt with a cheesecloth back.

I believe it may be theater made. The 4th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado. It is composed of a Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, three Brigade Combat Teams (1st Stryker BCT, 2nd Infantry BCT, and 3rd Armored BCT), a Combat Aviation Brigade, the 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, and a Division Artillery. The 4th Infantry Division's official nickname, "Ivy", is a play on words of the Roman numeral IV or 4. Ivy leaves symbolize tenacity and fidelity which is the basis of the division's motto: "Steadfast and Loyal". The second nickname, "Iron Horse", has been adopted to underscore the speed and power of the division and its soldiers. The 4th Infantry Division assaulted the northern coast of German-held France during the Normandy landings, landing at Utah Beach, 6 June 1944. The 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division claimed being the first surface-borne Allied unit (as opposed to the parachutist formations that were air-dropped earlier) to hit the beaches at Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

Relieving the isolated 82nd Airborne Division at Sainte-Mère-Église, the 4th cleared the Cotentin peninsula and took part in the capture of Cherbourg on 25 June. After taking part in the fighting near Periers, 6-12 July, the division broke through the left flank of the German 7th Army, helping to stem the German drive toward Avranches. By the end of August the division had moved to Paris, and gave French forces the first place in the liberation of their capital. During the liberation of Paris, Ernest Hemingway took on a self-appointed role as a civilian scout in the city of Paris for his friends in the 4 ID.

He was with the 22nd Infantry Regiment when it advanced from Paris, northeast through Belgium, and into Germany. Salinger, who met Hemingway during the liberation of Paris, was with the 12th Infantry Regiment. The 4th then moved into Belgium through Houffalize to attack the Siegfried Line at Schnee Eifel on 14 September, and made several penetrations.

Slow progress into Germany continued in October, and by 6 November the division entered the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, where it was engaged in heavy fighting until early December. It then shifted to Luxembourg, only to meet the German Army's winter Ardennes Offensive head-on (in the Battle of the Bulge) starting on 16 December 1944. Although its lines were dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and Osweiler, and, counterattacking in January across the Sauer, overran German positions in Fouhren and Vianden.

Halted at the Prüm River in February by heavy enemy resistance, the division finally crossed on 28 February near Olzheim, and raced on across the Kyll on 7 March. After a short rest, the 4th moved across the Rhine on 29 March at Worms, attacked and secured Würzburg and by 3 April had established a bridgehead across the Main at Ochsenfurt. Speeding southeast across Bavaria, the division had reached Miesbach on the Isar on 2 May 1945, when it was relieved and placed on occupation duty. Measures 2 1/2 by 2 1/2.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Patches". The seller is "laz-e-bid" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Theme: Militaria
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Conflict: WW II (1939-45)