Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
WWII Army Coat, c. 1942-1946 |
Object Name |
Uniform, Military |
Description |
WWII Army Coat, c. 1942-1946. Long overcoat made of heavy olive green wool. Coat has wide notched lapels with a buttonhole slit in each side and a corresponding round golden metal (likely brass) button with the US seal underneath each lapel. Coat is double-breasted, with three of the same brass buttons on each side. Shoulder straps are fastened with smaller versions of the buttons. Jacket has two almost invisible pockets, one at each hip. Proper left sleeve has two patches; the first, near the shoulder, is a white gear shape on a blue background and the second, on the forearm, has three chevron stripes pointing upward, a curved line at the bottom, and a "T" in the space between, denoting the wearer's rank as technician third grade. The proper right sleeve has the same rank patch. In the back are two wide strips of fabric at the waist that meet in the middle so as to adjust the coat's fit, fastened by one or both of the two attached buttons. The bottom half of the coat is split in the back, though this split can be buttoned closed. Inside in the front are two beige plastic hidden buttons to fasten the coat more securely. The inside sleeves and torso are lined with a lighter green woven material. |
Date |
c. 1942-1946 |
Creator |
United States Army |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2018.005.003 |
Dimensions |
H-52 W-20 D-12 inches |
Dimension Details |
on mannequin |
Collection |
3D - Personal Symbols |
Inscription Text |
"T" (green on navy blue background, on each sleeve patch); "40L" (stamped in black on inside collar); "P.A. RYAN / 39028832" (handwritten in black on inside collar) |
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 |
Techician ranks replaced specialist ranks in 1942. Technician third grade was the same rank and pay grade as a staff sergeant, though technicians did not have the same authority to issue orders. [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] 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 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 |