Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice original embroidered shoulder sleeve insignia associated with the Mars Task Force, formally organized as the 5332nd Brigade (Provisional), which operated in the China-Burma-India Theater during the final campaigns in northern Burma. The patch retains strong embroidery and remnants of its original attachment stitching, indicating that it was removed from a uniform.

The insignia measures approximately 3 ⅜ x 3 ⅞”. The design consists of a shield divided into green and blue quadrants. Within the shield are a white sun and star derived from the established China-Burma-India Theater insignia, crossed by a prominent red lightning bolt.

A blue field separates the shield from the upper scroll, which is embroidered:

MARS . TASK . FORCE

Remnants of thread remain around the edge of the patch. These stitches are consistent with prior uniform attachment and identify it as a uniform removed example.

The embroidery remains in very good condition without any serious damage. The colors and principal design elements remain clearly visible, including the red lightning bolt, divided shield, white sun and star, and embroidered title scroll.

The Mars Task Force was organized following the capture of Myitkyina in 1944 as Allied forces prepared to continue their offensive through northern Burma toward the old Burma Road. Formally designated the 5332nd Brigade (Provisional), it was activated as a long range penetration formation under Brigadier General John P. Willey.

Its principal combat elements included the 475th Infantry Regiment, formed in part from surviving veterans of Merrill’s Marauders, and the 124th Cavalry Regiment, a former Texas National Guard unit that fought dismounted as infantry. The U.S. trained and equipped 1st Chinese Regiment (Separate) also served as part of the brigade.

Small teams of Nisei Military Intelligence Service linguists served with the American regiments. Technical Sergeant Kazuo Komoto led the Nisei specialists assigned to the 475th Infantry, while Technical Sergeant Kan Tagami led those serving with the 124th Cavalry. Their language skills supported interrogation, translation, intelligence gathering, and operations against Japanese forces.

The Mars Task Force conducted difficult long range operations through mountainous terrain in late 1944 and early 1945. Its personnel and pack animals moved along primitive trails to outflank Japanese positions and threaten communications along the Burma Road. These operations contributed to the reopening of the land route between Burma and China.

The strong embroidered construction, complete MARS . TASK . FORCE scroll, and distinctive combination of CBI imagery with the red lightning bolt preserve the principal features of this insignia. It would be appropriate for a collection focused on Merrill’s Marauders, the 475th Infantry Regiment, the 124th Cavalry Regiment, Nisei Military Intelligence Service personnel, or American operations in the China-Burma-India Theater.