The design of the I Field Force, Vietnam Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) was approved on 5 October 1966. At its center is a crusader’s sword—the “Sword of Freedom”—and its similarity to an Arabic numeral 1 recalls the unit motto of “First in Freedom” as well as the unit’s numerical designation, as does the single diagonal. In piercing and penetrating into the red area, the sword is a visual reference to the Force’s mission of probing and surveilling enemy territory and then driving opposing forces back.
Obviously not discernible on the UCP and OCP versions of I Field Force, Vietnam patch are the colors of the United States (red, white, and blue) and of the Republic of Vietnam (yellow and red), while blue, red, and yellow are branch colors of the Army’s three major combat arms (Infantry, Artillery, and Armor). In silhouette, the patch resembles the head of a battle-axe, a visual allusion to the ability of I Field Force to smash its enemies.
Related ItemsI Field Force, Vietnam Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)