G & W Sport Togs and Military Equipment, American Search this
Worn by:
Lt. Colonel Charles J. Blackwood Sr., American, 1896 - 1982 Search this
Medium:
wool (textile), linen (material), metal, leather, plastic and thread with ribbon, silver and gold
Dimensions:
H x W (a flat): 33 1/2 × 27 in. (85.1 × 68.6 cm)
H x W (b): 3/8 × 1 1/2 in. (1 × 3.8 cm)
H x W (b): 3/8 × 1 1/2 in. (1 × 3.8 cm)
H x W (d,e): 1/2 × 7/8 in. (1.2 × 2.3 cm)
H x W (f,g): 13/16 × 1 9/16 in. (2 × 4 cm)
Type:
regalia
jackets
military uniforms
medals
insignias
Cultural Place:
United States, North and Central America
Date:
1941-1945
Description:
A US Army uniform jacket (a) with service medals and pins (b-g) worn by Charles J. Blackwood as a Major in World War II. The single-breasted jacket (a) is made from a dark olive green wool fabric and closes at the center front with three gold buttons featuring the US Army insignia in relief. The bottom, fourth button has been replaced and is made from plastic. There are two pleated breast pockets, one at each front side, with scallop-edged flaps. One decorative gold US Army insignia button is attached at the center of each flap. There are two front waist welted pockets, one at each front side. Each pocket has a rectangular shaped flap that covers the welt, with one decorative gold US Army insignia button attached at the center of each flap. On the outside side of each pocket is a gold hook sewn onto to the jacket with a light brown leather patch. The sleeves are full-length straight cut without a cuff, with a band of 1/2-inch wide green woven tape around each sleeve three inches from the wrist hem. A World War I Service Chevron patch with 2 arrows (indicating one year of overseas service) is attached at the proper right sleeve just above the green trim near the wrist hem. The shoulders of the jacket have a strap on each side attached with the US Army insignia button. The back of the jacket has one center vent.
The interior of the sleeves are fully lined with a white fabric, and the interior body is lined with green fabric. The shoulders and breast insides are sewn in a quilted pattern. A white fabric manufacturer's tag is sewn on the interior proper right jacket with blue embroidered text reading [G & W SPORT TOGS / AND / MILITARY EQUIPMENT / 415 SIXTEENTH ST. DENVER, COLO.] On the right of the tag is an image of a person riding a horse. Three plastic buttons are sewn onto the interior of the right jacket label.
(b): A World War I Victory Service Ribbon bar pin with three devices. The pin is above the proper left breast pocket on the jacket. The pin is a striped pattern with rainbow colors and has three stars that signify battle participation and campaign credit.
(c): A World War II American campaign Ribbon bar pin. The pin is above the proper left breast pocket on the jacket. The ribbon is blue with a central stripe divided into thirds of old glory blue, white, and scarlet. Between the center and the edges are stripes in white, black, scarlet and white. The blue color represents the Americas; the central blue, white and red stripes, taken from the American Defense Service Medal ribbon, represents the continuance of American defense after Pearl Harbor. The white and black stripes represent the German part of the conflict on the Atlantic Coast, while the red and white stripes are for the Japanese colors and refer to that part of the conflict on the Pacific Coast.
(d, e): Two gold metal "U.S." pins. One pin (d) is attached at the proper left front collar, the other pin (e) is attached at the proper right front collar.
(f, g): Two gold, crossed 1795 Springfield muskets pins that denote infantry insignia. One pin (f) is attached at the proper left front collar, the other pin (g) is attached at the proper right front collar.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Beverly J. Blackwood in memory of Charles J. Blackwood, Sr.