{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-fighting-6th-6th-mechanized-cavalry-group-captain-s-custom-uniform-jacket-with-bullion-patch-piped-officer-s-garrison-cap-with-enameled-di","title":"Original U.S. WWII “Fighting 6th” 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group Captain’s Custom Uniform Jacket with Bullion Patch \u0026 Piped Officer’s Garrison Cap with Enameled DI","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding and highly displayable \u003cstrong\u003eU.S. WWII Captain’s uniform grouping from the 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, consisting of a custom tailored officer’s service jacket by \u003cstrong\u003eLester Harris of Savannah, Georgia\u003c\/strong\u003e and a matching Cavalry piped garrison cap fitted with Captain’s bars and an enameled 6th Cavalry unit insignia. The jacket is especially desirable for its \u003cstrong\u003ebullion 6th Cavalry shoulder patch\u003c\/strong\u003e, Presidential Unit Citation, officer’s collar insignia, Captain’s rank, and four place ribbon bar. The grouping is strongly associated with the celebrated wartime service of the 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group under General George S. Patton’s Third Army, where the unit became famous for its Army level reconnaissance role and earned the nickname \u003cstrong\u003e“Patton’s Household Cavalry.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group was organized around two squadrons:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Group arrived in Normandy in July 1944 and was assigned to \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral George S. Patton’s Third Army\u003c\/strong\u003e. Patton wanted a reconnaissance organization that could move battlefield information directly to Army headquarters without relying entirely on the slower conventional reporting structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe solution became the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArmy Information Service\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eor:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAIS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group was selected for the role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne squadron would perform AIS duties while the other handled security, reserve, and direct action responsibilities. The squadrons rotated these assignments on a roughly 21 day cycle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReconnaissance troops were attached throughout Third Army headquarters structures, with detachments operating at Corps and Division level and smaller sections sometimes pushed down to Regimental headquarters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis created an unusually fast information network.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring Operation Cobra, the AIS reportedly reduced the average time required for battlefield information to reach Third Army headquarters from the conventional eight to nine hours to roughly:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003etwo hours and twenty minutes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat speed gave Patton much greater battlefield awareness and flexibility during the rapid advance across France.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe uniform jacket itself is a privately tailored officer’s example made by:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLester Harris\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSavannah, Georgia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left shoulder carries a particularly attractive:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ebullion 6th Cavalry insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe use of bullion immediately gives the jacket a more distinctive officer’s appearance than a standard machine embroidered patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaptain’s rank bars are present on both shoulder boards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe collar carries:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S. officer’s insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCavalry branch insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right breast bears a:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePresidential Unit Citation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewhile the left breast carries a four place ribbon bar consisting of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurple Heart\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBronze Star Medal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Campaign Medal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere appears to have been another shoulder patch on the right sleeve at one time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat insignia is now missing, leaving evidence of its former presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exact identity of the removed patch is not known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe matching overseas or garrison cap is an especially strong part of the grouping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is piped in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eblack and yellow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003edenoting Cavalry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side carries Captain’s rank bars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side is fitted with an enameled:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6th Cavalry unit insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe enamel shows some cracking from age, but the device remains extremely attractive and displays very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap is marked as size:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7 ¼\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group’s wartime record was exceptionally active.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Brittany Campaign, elements of the Group reconnoitered the Loire River and helped ensure that bridges were destroyed or controlled so German forces could not threaten Third Army’s southern flank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn September 1944, elements of the Group were used in direct combat and fire support roles along the Moselle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring October, worsening weather interfered with motorcycle and Jeep communications, and the Group even resorted to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ecarrier pigeons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eas an alternative method of carrying information when radios or vehicles could not be relied upon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy November, Third Army began using one squadron for AIS duties while committing the other more heavily to combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis led to the creation of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTask Force Fickett\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003enamed for Colonel Edward Fickett.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Task Force included cavalry, Rangers, tank destroyers, and engineers and fought in support of XX Corps near the Saar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early December 1944, TF Fickett attacked around \u003cstrong\u003eCarling and L’Hôpital\u003c\/strong\u003e, overcoming determined German resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly days later, the Battle of the Bulge began.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn Christmas Eve, Task Force Fickett moved north to support III Corps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOperating on the flanks of the \u003cstrong\u003e4th Armored Division\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e26th Infantry Division\u003c\/strong\u003e, the cavalrymen helped secure the western flank of the advance toward Bastogne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir reconnaissance and flank protection contributed directly to the success of the 4th Armored Division’s drive to reach the surrounded \u003cstrong\u003e101st Airborne Division\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Group continued fighting into January 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround \u003cstrong\u003eHarlange, Watrange, and Sonlez\u003c\/strong\u003e, the 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group attacked positions that had resisted other American formations for days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cavalrymen seized the towns, captured substantial German equipment and approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e300 prisoners\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor its actions in this fighting, the Group received the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePresidential Unit Citation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat award is particularly relevant to this uniform because the jacket itself carries a Presidential Unit Citation over the right breast pocket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Group continued east through Luxembourg and Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts troops fought near the \u003cstrong\u003eOur River\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003ePrüm River\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the \u003cstrong\u003eNims River\u003c\/strong\u003e, and later participated in rapid advances deeper into Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn March 1945, Task Force Fickett served as an advance guard for VIII Corps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt \u003cstrong\u003eSchmitten\u003c\/strong\u003e, elements of the 28th Squadron encountered soldiers of the \u003cstrong\u003e6th SS Mountain Division Nord\u003c\/strong\u003e and suffered severe casualties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Group nevertheless continued its advance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy April 1945, the 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group was operating toward Czechoslovakia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt crossed the Saale River, secured bridges, screened the VIII Corps advance, and entered Czechoslovakia in late April.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts final offensive actions took place in the opening days of May before the German surrender.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group’s combination of reconnaissance, communications, security, and direct combat service made it one of the more unusual and effective cavalry organizations in Third Army.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts performance earned the enduring nickname:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Patton’s Household Cavalry”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis uniform grouping is particularly appealing because so many of the details are directly connected with that wartime history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ebullion 6th Cavalry shoulder patch, Captain’s rank, Cavalry collar insignia, Presidential Unit Citation, four place ribbon bar, Cavalry piped garrison cap, and enameled 6th Cavalry insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e together create a very coherent officer’s ensemble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cracking to the enamel, missing interior or maker details not described, evidence of a removed right shoulder patch, and any normal age wear are fully disclosed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grouping also appears quite researchable, especially given the combination of rank, branch, unit insignia, awards, and custom tailor identification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the advanced collector, this is an especially strong U.S. armored cavalry officer grouping connected with one of Patton’s most distinctive battlefield reconnaissance formations. It would make an excellent addition to a \u003cstrong\u003e6th Mechanized Cavalry Group, Third Army, Patton, Battle of the Bulge, Cavalry officer, bullion insignia, or advanced U.S. WWII uniform collection\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44850850431045,"sku":"ONJR26MAAC144","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/BDA39E9A-C994-436D-BC74-B34B06237D4E.jpg?v=1775512368","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-fighting-6th-6th-mechanized-cavalry-group-captain-s-custom-uniform-jacket-with-bullion-patch-piped-officer-s-garrison-cap-with-enameled-di","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}