Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
WWII Army Coat, c. 1942-1946 |
Object Name |
Uniform, Military |
Description |
WWII Army Coat, c. 1942-1946. Olive green jacket with wide notched lapels and four buttons running down the front. Buttons are golden metal (likely brass) and have the United States seal engraved on them. Jacket has four front pockets, one on each side of the chest and one on each hip; all four are closed with a flap over the top fastened by a smaller version of the same buttons. Above the proper right chest pocket is a diamond-shaped patch with an eagle in a circle embroidered in gold on a green background. On the proper left sleeve are two patches, one near the shoulder with a white gear shape on a blue background, the other on the upper arm with three chevron stripes pointing upward and two curved lines below, denoting the rank of technical sergeant. The proper right sleeve has the same chevron patch. Beside this patch is pinned a receipt from Roy's Cleaners; the cost of dry-cleaning two coats and one shirt was $1.63. At the shoulders are shoulder straps fastened with more small golden buttons. The back has a vertical split at the bottom. Inside, the sleeves and front panels are lined with a lighter green woven material. |
Date |
c. 1942-1946 |
Creator |
United States Army |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2018.005.001 |
Dimensions |
H-33 W-18 D-10 inches |
Dimension Details |
on mannequin |
Collection |
3D - Personal Symbols |
Inscription Text |
"39L" (stamped in black on inside collar, above faded unknown symbol); "2633" (handwritten in black marker on inside collar); "6 / B 21/69" (handwritten in black on proper right front inside lining); "ROY'S / CLEANERS / 1100 El Camino Real / REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. / Phone 3767 / Name P.A. Ryan / Address [blank line] / Mark RYAN Date 4-12 / "CLEANING AT IT'S BEST"" (printed at top of receipt pinned to proper right sleeve next to a cartoon man in a top hat; name and date handwritten in pencil. below are abbreviations for each day of the week with a handwritten "m" in the Tuesday box and a checkmark in the Wednesday box); "2 Coats OD 118 / 1 shirt OD 45 / 1.63" (handwritten in pencil in middle of receipt); "REDIFORM-PACIFIC MANIFOLDING BOOK CO . INC . LOS ANGELES. CALIF." (tiny print at bottom of receipt) |
Provenance |
This belonged to Peter A. Ryan, Jr. who was born at 505 Marshall Street in Redwood City. Ryan worked at Ryan Pharmacy before and after serving in WWII. During the war, he was stationed at Baxter General Hospital in Spokane, WA as a pharmacist in the hospital pharmacy, as part of the Ninth Service Command. |
Notes |
Technical sergeant was the second-highest enlisted rank during WWII; its present-day equivalent is staff sergeant. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia_of_World_War_II 03/26/2018] "The Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces." They were created in 1942. "Army Service Forces brought together elements of five different components of the Army: elements of the War Department General Staff, especially its G-4 component; the Office of the Under Secretary of War; the eight administrative bureaux; the nine corps areas, which became the service commands; and the six supply arms and services, which became known as the technical services." The blue-and-white gear patch is the insignia of the Ninth Service Command, which covered the western states. The service commands were responsible for various logistical aspects of maintaining the army. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Forces; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_area 03/26/2018] Roy's Cleaners still exists today (03/26/2018) at the same El Camino Real address. [https://www.yelp.com/biz/roys-drive-in-cleaners-redwood-city] Baxter General Hospital opened in Spokane, WA in 1943 as a temporary military hospital. More information at http://www.historylink.org/File/10111 [accessed 03/26/2018] |
Search Terms |
Army Coats Jacket Jacket, Army Jackets Military Uniforms Ryan Jr., Peter A. Uniforms United States Army War Service World War II World War Two WWII |
Subjects |
Armies Coats Uniforms World War II |
People |
Ryan, Jr., Peter A. |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Kathleen Ryan |