The United States Army Alaska Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
, or unit patch, was originally approved for the Alaskan Defense Command on 24 March 1943 but was redesignated on New Year’s Eve, 1943 for the Alaskan Department. It has been designated for U.S. Army Alaska since March 1949 despite the fact that the organization was inactive for more than twenty years between 1973 and 1994.
While the white bear on the insignia could be interpreted as a reference to the region’s polar bears, it actually represents the constellation of Ursa Major, or The Great Bear, a constellation containing seven stars that almost all of us call the “Big Dipper.” In ancient mythology, Ursa Major was the guardian of Polaris, a star in Ursa Minor also known as the North Star which is represented here by the lone gold star. Also called the Pole Star, Polaris, is commonly employed in the heraldry of Army units stationed in Arctic climes, like in the U.S. Army Alaska Distinguished Unit Insignia (see below.
With the introduction of the new Army Green Service Uniform, the Army effectively revived color patches like this one that had been discontinued for the blue Army Service Uniform, their place partially taken by the Combat Service ID Badge. But the CSIB never completely made up for the loss of the colored SSI on Service Uniforms because it was made only for units that had seen combat and was worn on the chest rather than shoulders, where it tended to blend in with various badges since up to six could be worn on the ASU.
Related Items
U.S. Army Alaska Unit Crest (DUI)
U.S. Army Alaska Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)