Help with unit crest/regimental ID of 45th Infantry Division veteran. Odd badge...

Hey folks. Picked up this little grouping to a 45th ID vet. I am trying to narrow down which regiment he was in so that I can track him in the morning reports at the archives. The badge on his cap is causing me quite some confusion...is it even a unit crest? Is there anything else in the photo that might help ID his regiment? The soldier's name was James G Ray in case there is anyone with a late war 45th ID Roster. He would have joined the unit late in '44. I appreciate you guys taking a look.

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157th is the closest I have come and even that's not a great match:


but, if you compare it to the other DUI's here: History of the 45th Infantry Division, it comes closer than the others.
Is it possible that the picture was taken after WW2?

 

I suppose that is possible. What would that mean though?

 

What we know is that he was in the infantry in WW2 and at some point he was in the 45th ID. Beings he has a Combat Infantryman's Badge the means he had to have been in an Infantry Regiment as an infantryman. The 45th ID had 4 Regiments: The 157th, 179th and the 180th the 158th regiment was sent to the Pacific and I am liking their unit crest as a match:


45th Infantry Division Organization

here is their story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/158th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)

 

It looks like he's got something on his right shoulder. He also looks to be wearing white cotton socks and only a two place ribbon bar. There is more to this picture than we are able to see.

 

Hi Folks,
I really appreciate you all taking a look at this. I bought these three pictures together of the same soldier. James G Ray was the name that came with the photos. I found a Sgt. James G Ray on veteran websites and from there located his enlistment record. Here are the other photos and that info:
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Name: James G Ray Birth Year: 1926 Race: White, Citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: Kentucky State of Residence: Kentucky County or City: Garrard Enlistment Date: 23 May 1944 Enlistment State: Kentucky Enlistment City: Fort Thomas Newport Branch: No branch assignment Branch Code: No branch assignment Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: 3 years of high school Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 00 Weight: 000

Name: James G Ray Service Info.: SGT US ARMY WORLD WAR II Birth Date: 16 Jan 1926 Death Date: 7 May 1992 Service Start Date: 22 May 1944 Interment Date: 11 May 1992 Cemetery: Camp Nelson National Cemetery Cemetery Address: Rr#3 6980 Danville Road Nicholasville, KY 40356 Buried At: Section J Site 487

Name: James G Ray Home in 1930: Buckeye, Garrard, Kentucky
View Map Age: 4 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1926 Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: James H Ray Mother's Name: Sue E Ray Race: White

Thanks a lot guys,

Geoff

 

I'm starting to wonder if perhaps he was transferred to the 45th after the war and retained his original unit's crest and perhaps the patch on the (concealed) right shoulder. Perhaps the crest is from a different division/regiment altogether. Does that sound plausible?

Geoff

 

I'd Like to hear you guys' opinions on this:

The insignia looks like it might be from the 45th signal company.
The 2 bars on his sleeve indicate he had spent 12 months, 6 each strip, overseas bars.
The right shoulder patch would have been his Former Overseas Wartime Parent Unit and could be the 7th Army.

The left shoulder patch is his current parent unit, the 45th

The right collar button is where the U.S. Insignia went.

The left collar, button above his CIB, is where the Branch Insignia went
Branch Insignia


These would be on his lapel where the Distinctive Unit Insignia/Unit Crests went
Regimental Insignia

And lastly, not being able to tell colors, if I had to guess his 2 ribbons would be a Silver Star, left, and the WWII Victory Medal, right.

 

It looks like a good conduct medal and maybe a WW2 victory......not a Silver Star. He would be entitled to a Bronze Star though if he was awarded the CIB during WW2. Something about the picture makes me think Korea.

 

Something about the picture makes me think Korea.[/QUOTE]


In one of the pictures he is holding a ton of Nazi war trophies though...

 

If it is indeed a WW2 medal it would mean the picture was taken after the war.

 

Yeah but he could have gotten that during occupation duty. It's just hard to tell.