US 66th division service dress

[Aleksander P]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this uniform. I bought it last summer for 20e . If anyone has closer information about this uniform please tell,i would appreciate it.

[RH1941]

I like it very nice patch.Any history on it. Gary

[Adrian Stevenson]

That was a good buy Comrade.

Not much to tell you about it: rank is Private first class (Pfc) and the ribbon is for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Awarded for service in the ETO. (European Theatre of Operations) The two yellow bars on the cuff are for Overseas service, with each bar representing 6 months service. You should be able to easliy find a replacement US collar disc for it.

Some info on the unit taken from the net:

The three regiments of the 66th Infantry Division arrived in England, 26 November 1944, and the remainder of the Division, 12 December 1944, training until 24 December 1944 when the Division crossed the English Channel to Cherbourg on two Belgian steamships, the Chesire and the Leopoldville. A German torpedo ripped into the transport Leopoldville just 5 miles from its destination of Cherbourg, and 14 officers and 748 enlisted men were lost.

Attached to the 12th Army Group and designated the 12th Army Group Coastal Sector, with operational control of all French forces in the area, the 66th relieved the 94th Division in the Brittany-Loire area, 29 December 1944. Its mission of containing the enemy in the St. Nazaire and Lorient pockets was carried out by daily reconnaissance patrols, limited objective attacks, and the maintenance of harassing and interdictory fires on enemy installations. A heavy German attack near La Croix was repulsed, 16 April 1945, and several strongly emplaced enemy positions were taken, 19-29 April 1945. Enemy troops in the Lorient and St. Nazaire pockets surrendered to the Division upon the end of hostilities in Europe, 8 May 1945. The 66th moved to Germany on occupation duty, in the Koblenz subarea, 20 May 1945, and left for Marseille, 26 May 1945. It sailed for home 27 October 1945.

Cheers, Ade.

[Aleksander P]

Hey Ade! Thanks for information! I actualy found the US collar disc from the uniforms pocket. Do you know what the castle collar disc means?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Comrade, glad you found the disc. I could not tell what the other collar dog was from the pic: now I can tell you it is for the Engineers.

Here is a link to the Order of Battle for the Division:

66th INFANTRY DIVISION

Cheers, Ade.