General: GIs can wear combat patch of choice
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55240
HEIDELBERG, Germany — Word came down from on high last week reaffirming
that soldiers at Camp Speicher, Iraq, and elsewhere may wear whatever
combat patches they’ve earned.
"By regulation, Soldiers who have been on multiple deployments with
different units have the option of wearing their unit combat patch of
their choice based on war-time service," Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, the
commander of the 1st Armored Division and Task Force Iron in northern
Iraq, wrote in an e-mailed memo Monday. "I encourage leaders at all
levels to inform soldiers on the provisions of AR 670-1 ... and ensure
they know they can adorn their uniform with the authorized combat patch
of their preference," the memo said.
Hertling’s message was some small comfort to Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Minor.
Minor, attached to the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, and ordered to wear
a 1st Infantry Division patch, had waged a lonely battle to be able to
wear his patch from the 173rd Airborne Combat Team and an Afghanistan
deployment.
