WW2 US Army 5th Infantry Division (“Red Diamond”) green back patch.

The 5th Infantry Division (“Red Diamond”) had one of the more distinguished combat records of any US division in the European Theater.

Pre-invasion (1942–44): The division deployed to Iceland in 1942 for occupation duty, then moved to Northern Ireland and England in 1944 to train for the invasion of France.

Normandy and the breakout: The 5th landed in France in July 1944, after D-Day, and entered combat in the Normandy hedgerow fighting. It played a key role in the breakout, particularly in the drive toward the Loire River and the encirclement of German forces.

Crossing the Seine and Moselle: The division earned distinction for a rapid, largely unopposed crossing of the Seine River near Fontainebleau in August 1944, then fought hard battles crossing the Moselle River near Dornot and Arnaville in September as part of Patton’s Third Army push toward Metz.

Metz: The 5th was heavily involved in the grinding fight for the fortress city of Metz in late 1944, one of the toughest urban/fortress battles US forces faced in the ETO.

Battle of the Bulge: The division was pulled into the Ardennes counteroffensive in December 1944, helping to blunt the German advance and then pushing into Luxembourg and toward the Siegfried Line.

Into Germany: In 1945 the 5th breached the Siegfried Line, crossed the Rhine, and drove deep into central Germany, ending the war near Czechoslovakia.

The division suffered heavy casualties, especially at Metz, and racked up multiple campaign streamers. That maroon (red) diamond patch on a khaki/olive drab wool background is exactly the WWII-pattern insignia, and a well-worn, uniform-removed “greenback”  a solid, honest period piece.