Pics of my 5.8M SA M1 and M-50 "Ike" Jacket

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NWSwede	Pics of my 5.8M SA M1 and M-50 "Ike" Jacket	Lead	[-]
Posts: 421 (05/22/08 10:09 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I needed a late, post-WWII M1 to fill a gap in my collection, so I recently ordered this 5.8M Springfield from the CMP (Service Grade). It came with a complete H&R trigger group, which I swapped for a correct, late SA trigger group. It's mostly correct now, except for the bolt (H&R) and a few small parts. Anyways, I also recently picked up an M-50 "Ike" jacket dated December 29, 1950, and I thought a picture of the two together would look neat, so here it is. I'm trying to figure out what unit the shoulder patch represents. It looks like a prospector panning for gold. I've searched some sites on the web, but still haven't found it yet. Anyone have an idea how I can find out?
rruss2827	Shoulder Patch	#1	[-]
Posts: 1214 (05/22/08 12:06 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Looks like it belonged to a California National Guard unit, the 49th ID. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49th_Infantry_Division_(United_States) Probably more and better info out there on the 49th, but it's a start. By the way, good looking rifle and jacket. Excellent photo of the two.
NWSwede	Thanks!!	#2	[-]
Posts: 422 (05/22/08 03:28 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	rruss2827, That's it! Thanks for the link! It's just amazing how much information our fellow board members have. 49th Infantry Division (United States) The 49th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army formed from the 52nd Infantry Division. The 52d Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946, and was allocated to the State of California as a National Guard division during the post World War II demobilization. The division was to be headquartered in the area of "49'ers" of the California Gold Rush. To mark the upcoming centenary of the 1849 gold rush, the State of California requested that the 52d Infantry Division change its designation to the 49th Infantry Division. The change was approved by a National Guard Bureau Letter, CSNGB, dated 24 October 1947, Subject: "Change in Designation of 52d Infantry Division" and an Adjutant General Letter, AGAO-I 325 dated 20 October 1947, Subject: "Allotment of National Guard Units (California)." The change was made retroactive to 5 August 1946, the formation of the original 52nd division. The new division was known as the "Argonaut Division," and its shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a 49'er panning for gold. The nickname refers to the 49'ers, who were also known as Argonauts. The 49th Infantry Division was deactivated on 29 January 1968. General Nickname: Argonauts Shoulder Patch: A crouched gold miner in blue on a red and gold shield. References California State Military Museum Wilson, John B. (1997). Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. Washington, DC: Center of Military History. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49th_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29" Last Edited By: NWSwede 05/22/08 03:31 PM. Edited 1 times.
Sgt Rob P		#3	[-]
Posts: 104 (05/24/08 02:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nice pics! I like the history lesson too. Semper Fi, Rob