The 353 Engineer Battalion 353B1(E/b, c) is an authentic WWII era Distinctive Unit Insignia from Germany. This original military insignia features aluminum and enamel construction with a european vertical safety pin back, two piece back: circular fastening plate, hand soldered design. Collectors often search for this type of item as a Distinctive Unit Insignia, also known as DUI, DI, Crest. This WWII period piece is highly sought after by military memorabilia enthusiasts and historians.
Product Details
Item Type: Distinctive Unit Insignia
Era: WWII
Origin: Germany
Materials: Aluminum, Enamel
Manufacturer: No Hallmark
Construction: European Vertical Safety Pin Back, Two Piece Back: Circular Fastening Plate, Hand Soldered
Unit History
The 353rd Engineer Battalion was constituted on 5 May 1942 in the Army of the United States and activated on 15 May 1942 at Camp White, Oregon. During World War II, the battalion participated in campaigns in the European Theater, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. Following the end of the war, the unit was inactivated on 25 November 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. It was later allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps (now the Army Reserve) and reactivated on 21 April 1947 at Salt Lake City, Utah. The battalion has since undergone several relocations and continues to serve as a key engineer unit within the U.S. Army Reserve.
Sources:
GlobalSecurity.org. (n.d.). 353rd Engineer Battalion. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/353eng.htm
Wikipedia. (n.d.). 353rd Engineer Battalion (United States). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/353rd_Engineer_Battalion_(United_States)