Patch, 474th Infantry Regiment

Genuine WWII US shoulder patch of the 474th Infantry Regiment, 100% cotton thread. This particular regiment of the US Army was created in November 1944 by the amalgamation of elements from the First Special Service Brigade; 1st, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions; and the 99th Infantry Battalion (composed of Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans). The insignia is based upon the FSSF 'red arrow' badge, in the middle of which appear the 99th Battalion's Viking ship and the Rangers tab.

As a whole, the 474th IR was attached to Patton's Third Army in Germany in early 1945, to assist the 'Monuments Men' in their mission; the unit subsenquently transferred to Norway to assist in disarming the German occupation forces.