Post ww2 Trieste occupation patch

2.5 by 3.5 inches 
The 88th Division was constituted as A
National Army Division on 5 Aug 1917, and
organized at Camp Dodge, lowa on 25 Aug
1917. After training in the US the Division
arrived in England in Aug 1918 and after
a short stay moved by units to France. It
(less Artillery) participated in the Alsace
campaign with distinction. After the Ar-
mistace it remained in France and moved
to the US by unit between Dec 1918 and
May 1919. It moved to Camp Dodge, lowa
and was demobilised 10 June 1919. It was
reconstituted in the Organized Reserves 24
June 1921 and activated with Hg at Min-
neapolis, MN in Sept 1921. It was made up
of units in lowa and Minnesota.From 1921
thought 1940 the division participated in
normal reserve training and activities
The division, less personnel, ordered to
active military service at Camp Gruber, Ok
15 July 1942. On 1 August 1942 it was
redesignated: 88th Infantry Division. After
intensive training at various locations in the
US, the division departed the US on 6 Dec
1943 and arrived at Casablanca, French
Morocco on 15 Dec 1943. It moved to
Magenta, Algeria for intensive training. It
then proceded to Naples, Italy, arriving 6
Feb 1944. after more training the divisioand was demobilised 10 June 1919. It was
reconstituted in the Organized Reserves 24
June 1921 and activated with Hq at Min-
neapolis, MN in Sept 1921. It was made up
of units in lowa and Minnesota.From 1921
thought 1940 the division participated in
normal reserve training and activities
The division, less personnel, ordered to
active military service at Camp Gruber, Ok
15 July 1942. On 1 August 1942 it was
redesignated: 88th Infantry Division. After
intensive training at various locations in the
US, the division departed the US on 6 Dec
1943 and arrived at Casablanca, French
Morocco on 15 Dec 1943. It moved to
Magenta, Algeria for intensive training. It
then proceded to Naples, Italy, arriving 6
Feb 1944. after more training the division
went into the line in front of Cassino, 27
Feb 1944. It relieved British units along the
Arigliano River on 5 Mar 1944. After a
period of defensive patrols and additional
training, it drove north and captured a
series of towns and arrived at Anzio on 29
May 1944, then pursued the Germans in-
to Rome on 4 June 1944. One its elements
was credited as being the first unit to enter
the Eternal City. After continuing north,
across the Tiber River, the division was
relieved for rest and training.
On 8 July 1944 they again attackednorth, and crossed the Arno 20 July. Again
a period of rest and then attacked the
Gothic Line, advancing rapidly toward the
Po Valley. Mount Grande and Farnetto
were captured on 20 and 22 Oct 1944.
Here they went into a period of defensive
patrolling until Jan 1945. The final drive to
the Po Valley began 15 April 1945. The Po
was crossed on 24 April and they pursued
the enemy through the Dolomite Alps
toward Innsbruck, Austria, when hostilities
ended on 2 May 1945.
The division became the main occupa-
tion force in Northern Italy and Trieste after
the war. Units were inactivated as they
became surplus, the major units in 1947.
The Division Hq was inactivated 24 Oct
1947. In 1951 the 350th and 351st Infan-
try Regts were withdrawn from the division
and made part of the regular army.
On 26 Dec 1967 the 88th Army Reserve
Command was established at Minneapolis,
MN. Although it did not inherit the history
and honors of the 88th Infantry Division,
they were permitted to use the number 88
and to wear the SSl of the division. In the
event of mobilzation the division would re-
acquire the use of the SSI.
The troops from the division that remain-
ed in Trieste after the division was inac-
tivated in 1947, were authorized to wear the
blue quatrefoil with a white border, bear-The division became the main occupa-
tion force in Northern Italy and Trieste after
the war. Units were inactivated as they
became surplus, the major units in 1947.
The Division Hq was inactivated 24 Oct
1947. In 1951 the 350th and 351st Infan-
try Regts were withdrawn from the division
and made part of the regular army.
On 26 Dec 1967 the 88th Army Reserve
Command was established at Minneapolis,
MN. Although it did not inherit the history
and honors of the 88th Infantry Division,
they were permitted to use the number 88
and to wear the SSI of the division. In the
event of mobilzation the division would re-
acquire the use of the SSI.
The troops from the division that remain-
ed in Trieste after the division was inac-
tivated in 1947, were authorized to wear the
blue quatrefoil with a white border, bear-
ing a red shield on the center charged with
a white weapon's head, and worn with a
separate tab, dark blue, bordered white, in-
scribed: TRUST in white. The SSI was
authorized 30 Aug 1949 and was rescind-
ed 4 April 1958. Also the 350th Infantry was
activated in Austria as an occupation unit
15 June 1948, and they wore the 88th Divi-
sion SSl until the new insignia for Tactical
Command, Austria was authorized in 1952.