Please Help Identify Possible WWII Pin.

[bigwheelzip]

I'm trying to identify this pin that I think has some relation to the WWII service of a US Army PFC in the ETO. Perhaps something for a serviceman's mother? The patent number is for the clasp.

 

[vonn]

Maybe gold star mothers pin?

 

[bigwheelzip]

Maybe gold star mothers pin?

It looks like a silver version of the gold stars used for honoring parents of deceased servicemen.

 

[the ringo kid]

Could it be a Brigadier Generals Shoulder Epaulette/collar star? or Overseas cap star?

 

[bigwheelzip]

Could it be a Brigadier Generals Shoulder Epaulette/collar star? or Overseas cap star?

Everything I see for one-star generals is a post-type of clasp.

 

[the ringo kid]

Everything I see for one-star generals is a post-type of clasp.

Ive seen some sterling silver tailor made that were done like safety pins. Those were usually made by firms out of New York City-where my Grandfather had some of his pins tailor made from. Of course--there can be many diff variants too-so we both can be correct and incorrect at the same time. I don't have any of my grandfathers stuff handy--all put away at home--or id gladly give more details.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Ive seen some sterling silver tailor made that were done like safety pins. Those were usually made by firms out of New York City-where my Grandfather had some of his pins tailor made from. Of course--there can be many diff variants too ....

This was in possession of a NYC mother (my grandma) of a son serving as an MP in the ETO. Campaigns were Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, and Rhineland. He survived the war.

Do you think maybe this might be something available for civilians to wear in recognition of a sons service?

 

[the ringo kid]

This was in possession of a NYC mother (my grandma) of a son serving as an MP in the ETO. Campaigns were Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, and Rhineland. He survived the war.

Do you think maybe this might be something available for civilians to wear in recognition of a sons service?

It's hard to say-also without having it in hand. I see it is Nickle in size-but then again-so were SOME tailor-made Brig.Gen sterling silver stars too. Same thing up to I think Lt.Gen stars--but those normally were all connected by a thin bar running the length of the backsides of the three stars. Trouble is--many variants due to jewelers and other makers-exist on those too-so can be larger-smaller in size too.

That is the thing that drove me a bit nuts when it came to collecting Imperial and WWII German stuff. There were officially anywhere from around 130 to 180--different German Govt sanctioned badges and insignias makers-while there were hundreds more individual tailors who made variants of stuff. Then their came those made by Jewish prisoners in concentration camps (only from the Waffen SS) and God knows how many from France, Belgium etc. Ive got stuff made by the French as well as a few items that were made by concentration camp inmates--who-did a superior job.

BTW, Camp inmates normally only made cloth items such of Shoulderboards and collar tabs. Ive two tabs and three pair of boards. I got these decades before I knew they were camp inmate made-otherwise-id have not bought them though I collect only rank and unit insignia. I hate insignia with the swastika on it.

 

[TheHobbyist]

My guess is a pin for a family member to wear. Both my grandmas had a pin for their husbands, one was a white heart; the other, was air force propellers.

 

[the ringo kid]

Ive done some looking and have seen images of Generals stars both smooth and corduroyed. The guesses will keep a coming.

 

[richardw]

It is a WWI and WWII Brigadier General star made of silver and ribbed to reduce its reflectance as part of battle uniform. It came in both a pin version and a screw version for mounting on a helmet. You can buy replicas of them on eBay.

 

[bigwheelzip]

... stars .... corduroyed.

Interesting term for that ridged surface pattern.

I suppose he may have come across a general star and kept it as a souvenir, but the more I look it seems like one of the many varieties of mother pins used during the war.

Here's one that uses a silver star in its design.

 

[the ringo kid]

^^^^^^^I couldn't think of the proper term for the lines. I'm too used to what stuff is called for the German. )

 

[the ringo kid]

It is a WWI and WWII Brigadier General star made of silver and ribbed to reduce its reflectance as part of battle uniform. It came in both a pin version and a screw version for mounting on a helmet. You can buy replicas of them on eBay.

Makes total sense too. Less flat surface for glare.

 

[PPS1980]

Silver stars were for serving troops parents and Gold for deceased troops parents. Looks like a pin that a the parent of a serviceman would wear during WWII.